Wandering sheep on State Highway 1, south of Dunedin, led to crashes involving a truck and three vehicles near Allanton yesterday morning.
Emergency services were called to the scene south of Allanton just after 5am, following reports of wandering stock and multiple-vehicle crashes.
Sergeant Ed Baker, of Dunedin, said a tanker driver stopped his vehicle after finding sheep on the road, which then led to his trailer unit being rammed. On the other side of the road, two other vehicles were involved in a pile-up.
One man was taken to hospital as a precaution.
A detour was put in place to allow emergency services to clear the road.
Constable Jacquie Ballam, of Mosgiel, said the problem of wandering stock was sporadic. If motorists saw animals on the road they should contact police, she said.
