One critically injured, children walk from crash wreckage

Three children walked away from the wreckage but one person was critically injured when a van rolled in North Canterbury this morning. 

Fire crews, along with police and ambulance personnel were called to Upper Sefton Rd shortly before 8.15am after receiving reports of a crash.

Police said in a statement that a van had rolled on the Balcairn road and there were initial reports of serious injuries.

Photos taken by a New Zealand Herald photographer at the scene showed the score of emergency services blocking the stretch of rural road.

Three children were seen being escorted away from the crash.

A helicopter was called to transport one person to Christchurch Hospital with critical injuries, a St John spokesperson said.

St John also said that three people had sustained minor injuries, while a fourth person was moderately injured.

All four were treated at the scene.