A 26-year-old Timaru woman, who was a pillion passenger, was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter. She was in a critical condition last night.
A second woman, the sole occupant of the Nissan car, was in a satisfactory condition in hospital.
One of the men was believed to be from Timaru and the other from the North Island.
Central Otago police sub area commander Senior Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said the two men were confirmed dead at the scene.
Emergency services were called to the crash at 2.16pm on State Highway 8, 19km north of Tarras, near Goodger Rd.
The two men, on Harley-Davidsons, were in a group of motorcyclists travelling north, while the car driver was heading south. Some of the motorcyclists had witnessed the crash and they were interviewed by police at Tarras yesterday. Victim Support volunteers were on hand to support those involved, Snr Sgt Kerrisk said.
Fire, police and ambulance personnel from Central Otago and the Waitaki District attended the crash and the road was closed for several hours. A single lane was reopened last night.
Cromwell police last night thanked members of the public who assisted at the scene, including a group of doctors.
Police are interested in sightings of a dark-coloured Nissan Pulsar travelling south from Omarama towards Cromwell.
They were also keen to speak to the occupants of a white station wagon travelling in a line of traffic shortly before the crash and in the movements of about eight motorcyclists on Harley-Davidsons who were travelling north towards Omarama.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cromwell police on (03) 445-1999.
