One person has died and three are seriously injured after a crash on the Kingston Road (State Highway 6) in Kawarau Falls.

Police said the single-vehicle crash happened just before 4am on Sunday between the intersections of Peninsula Rd and Boyd Rd.

Two people in the car have serious injuries, one has critical injuries, while one died at the scene.

A spokesman for Hato Hone St John said it was notified of the crash at 3.55am and sent two helicopters and an ambulance.

Three patients were assessed at the scene. The critically hurt person was taken to Lakes District Hospital by ambulance, while the two people with serious injuries were flown to hospitals in Dunedin and Christchurch, he said.

Fire and Emergency said the vehicle left the road and hit a tree, RNZ reported.

Crews from Frankton and Queenstown also attended.

The highway was closed until about 1.30pm while the Serious Crash Unit investigated.

- Allied Media