SH88 was closed for five and a-half hours on May 19, after 16-year-old Liam Christopher Stevenson, of Dunedin, died when his car and a truck collided near Ravensbourne.
The length of the closure was criticised by the Otago Chamber of Commerce, Chalmers Community Board, former police officers and members of the public, when it was revealed that up to three hours was spent waiting for the rostered crash analysis forensic mapping officer to arrive from Alexandra.
"Police accept that the handling of the fatal crash on Ravensbourne Rd on Thursday, 19 May, could have been better," Dunedin and Clutha area commander Inspector Dave Campbell said in a statement yesterday.
"Given the circumstances of this particular crash it would have been appropriate for police to have photographed, examined and marked the scene before clearing it, to allow traffic to pass through at a much earlier time.
"Crash scene mapping could have been done at a later date and there was no pressing need to wait for a suitably qualified officer to attend on the day of the crash.
"In hindsight, greater consideration should have been given to the fact that the crash occurred on a State Highway, it was a busy time of day and there was significant inconvenience to the public," he said.
"Police regret the inconvenience caused to public and businesses."
However, the highway would still have had to be closed for up to three hours, Insp Campbell said.
"Every fatal crash is different and in some cases it is both appropriate and necessary that the scene is held until a complete examination and mapping has been completed. Police are required to investigate every fatal crash to the highest standard."
Southern district police commander Superintendent Bob Burns agreed this week the road closure could have been dealt with more efficiently.
"I would have certainly liked to see it less than that [five and a-half hours] and we will look at opportunities to reduce the disruption to traffic for future events," he said.
However, three crash specialists covering the Central Otago, Waitaki and Otago-Southland districts - based in Dunedin, Alexandra and Invercargill - were "more than enough" and the rostered specialist would continue to be mobilised, irrespective of where a crash occurred, Supt Burns said.
Police Association Southern District director Brett Roberts also said it could have been handled "smarter".
