17 Dec 2017

Nine injured in crash near Oamaru

10:01 pm on 17 December 2017

Nine people, including two children, are in hospital after two vehicles crashed near Oamaru.

Police tape up at a cordon.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

One vehicle carrying six people and the other with three collided on State Highway 1 at Maheno, south of Oamaru, on Sunday evening.

Two children are reported to be among them.

Police said all nine occupants were taken to hospital with varying degrees of injuries.

At least one had critical injuries, two people had serious injuries and two more had moderate injuries.

Another four people had moderate to minor injuries.

Two people trapped in a car were rescued by fire crews.

Four helicopters and five ambulances took people to Oamaru and Dunedin hospitals.

State Highway 1 was closed for a time but one lane was later reopened.