A Dunedin man, trapped for 40 minutes in a crushed car, is in hospital with serious injuries following a collision on the Northern Motorway yesterday.
The man was the sole occupant of a station wagon which collided with a rental van carrying six Chinese tourists, including two children.
None of the tourists was seriously injured in the incident, which occurred about 100m north of the Butlers overbridge on State Highway 1, just before 1pm yesterday.
Police have yet to determine whether either driver was at fault.
''We still haven't been able to speak properly with the driver in hospital ... our inquiries are continuing,'' Acting Sergeant Sam Ramsay said.
The vehicles ended up in the southbound lane and the motorway was closed.
Emergency services reopened the northbound lane about 1.15pm.
Acting Sgt Ramsay said the injured driver was trapped in the station wagon for about 40 minutes, while fire crews worked to free him.
He was taken by ambulance to Dunedin Hospital with ''moderate to serious'' injuries.
Anyone who witnessed the collision but had yet to speak to police was urged to call the central Dunedin police station on 471-4800.
