The sole occupant of the other car involved was a 54-year-old woman from Haast, who was taken by ambulance to the Wanaka Medical Centre to be checked. Constable Mike Thomas, of Wanaka, told the Otago Daily Times yesterday police were still investigating but it appeared one of the cars had crossed the centre line.
The crash happened on a bend 15km north of Makarora in an area without cellphone coverage.
The tourists' car ended up over a bank and one occupant was trapped for a time.
A group of German and English trampers helped the occupants of the crashed cars until emergency services arrived.
As well as police, two helicopters, three fire appliances and two ambulances attended.
• Const Thomas said a 24-year-old Israeli was charged with failing to stop at a stop sign after a crash between a car and a courier van at the intersection of Brownston and Helwick Sts, Wanaka, at 10.30am yesterday.
