One person is dead and another critically injured after a crash that closed State Highway 1 between Oamaru and Timaru for a time today.

A police spokesperson said they were called to the single-vehicle crash, near the intersection of SH1 and O’Neills Rd, south of Makikihi, about 2.20pm on Monday. 

Hato Hone St John on Monday afternoon said one person had been airlifted to Timaru Hospital in a critical condition.

In an update about 7.15pm on Monday, police confirmed another person had died at the scene.

The road was closed for several hours with detours in place, but NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advised about 6.40pm it had reopened. Motorists were urged to take care in the area.

St John said it responded with two ambulances, one helicopter, one operations manager and one rapid response vehicle.