Six people have escaped serious injury after the car they were travelling in crashed into a river in Athenree.

A car carrying six passengers drove off Steele Road, ending up in a river at around 5am, reports Fairfax Media.

File photo.

Everyone inside the vehicle managed to escape the submerged car with only minor injuries.

Police are waiting for the results of a blood alcohol test to determine if the driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

A police communications spokesperson says the group were lucky to walk away from the crash because a lot of rural accidents end up in a ditch where people can't open the doors.