Constable Darren Huddleston, of Balclutha, said the driver of the red Toyota Avalon lost control of the vehicle in Owaka Valley Rd about 1pm yesterday.
Police were still looking into the cause of the crash, but there was no suggestion at this stage it was speed-related, Const Huddleston said.
The 33-year-old female driver, a 47-year-old male passenger and 4-year-old boy, all from Invercargill, climbed out a broken window.
An ambulance from Owaka and a fire appliance from Clinton attended the crash and an emergency helicopter was sent to the scene, but no-one was transported.
Senior Constable Richard Whitmore, of Clinton, said the passengers were lucky not to have been injured.
It was the second crash on the same stretch of road, about 16km from Clinton, within a day, he said.
A Nissan Tiida went out of control in the gravel 100m down the road about 4.15pm on Sunday.
The vehicle fishtailed before hitting a bank and coming to rest on the driver's side.
Snr Const Whitmore said the tourist driver (24), from Taiwan, was fortunate not to have been injured in the incident.
Police inquiries into both incidents were continuing.
- by Samuel White
