Police say it's a miracle no-one was killed or seriously injured in two crashes near Queenstown yesterday.
Sergeant Blair Duffy, of Queenstown, said a 20-year-old Arrowtown man crossed the centre line and crashed into a tree on McDonnell Rd near Arrowtown at 7.30am.
"That car has really walloped into that tree - and trees, surprisingly, are very unforgiving."
The driver was assessed at the scene by St John paramedics and later admitted to Lakes District Hospital.
The car was written off.
The man will appear in court on December 5, charged with careless driving.
At 6pm yesterday a 28-year-old Wanaka man lost control of his vehicle on a bend on the Queenstown side of the Crown Range, veering into an oncoming car.
Neither driver was injured; however, the cars were extensively damaged.
Police were unable to say if there were passengers in the cars.
The Wanaka driver will be summonsed to court for careless driving.
Sgt Duffy said it was a "miracle'' no-one was killed or seriously injured in either crash.
Conditions did not play a part in these crashes despite the recent snowfall, he said.
Drivers needed to have respect for other road users, he said, because a moment of carelessness could be fatal.
- Mandy Cooper
