A woman has been airlifted to Dunedin Hospital after a collision involving two cars and a train in North Otago.
Two vehicles were involved in a crash with a train near Maheno. Photo: ODT / Daniel Birchfield
Police received reports of the crash on the State Highway 1 crossing at Reidston near Oamaru at midday.
St John said the woman airlifted was in a serious condition and two others had moderate injuries.
State Highway 1 was closed at Maheno south of Oamaru, but has now reopened.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge of Oamaru told the Otago Daily Times a southbound vehicle was stopped at the level crossing, when it was allegedly ''rear-ended'' by a silver Toyota Rav4.
The southbound hatchback was shunted across the other side of the railway tracks, while the Rav4 came to a stop on the tracks in the path of the oncoming train.
Woodbridge said the train driver saw the scene unfolding, but was was not able to stop in time, hitting the Rav4 which ended up on its roof.
A helicopter landed at the site about 12.30pm and transported the 91-year-old female driver of the Rav4 to Dunedin Hospital.
SH 1 MAHENO, OTAGO - CRASH - 12:35 PM THURS, 30 JAN
— NZTA Otago/Southland (@NZTAOS) January 29, 2020
Due to a serious crash, the road is CLOSED. Please follow the directions of emergency services on site or delay your journey or avoid the area until the crash is clear. ^SM https://t.co/YTJrx9OOEG pic.twitter.com/WeX0vQv6p7
In Arrowtown, emergency services have responded to a serious crash.
The single-vehicle crash was reported in Macetown Valley shortly after midday.
Two people are believed to have been in the vehicle.
St John confirmed one patient had been flown to Lakes District Hospital with minor injuries.
The road between Glenorchy and Queenstown has reopened after another serious crash this afternoon.
A vehicle is understood to have come off the road shortly after 3pm near Mount Creighton.
A man has been taken to Lakes District Hospital. His condition has been downgraded from critical to serious.
- with additional reporting by Otago Daily Times
