3 flown to hospital after crash near Clutha

Three people were flown to Dunedin Hospital in two helicopters after a serious crash near Balclutha on Saturday, which closed the highway and forced traffic diversions for about six hours.

Balclutha volunteer firefighters used jaws of life cutting gear to free one moderately injured man, a front-seat passenger trapped in one of the two heavily-damaged cars, a Mitsubishi.

Both cars were extensively damaged, but it is understood the injuries were not as serious as first believed, and that all three patients have since been discharged from hospital.

Balclutha police were alerted to the two-car collision, at Stony Creek, north of Balclutha, at 11.49am on Saturday.

Police remained at the scene until after 6pm, the highway being closed, with light vehicles diverted around the crash scene.

It is understood that the two cars were travelling in opposite directions and  one had apparently crossed the  centre line and hit a bank before the collision with the other vehicle.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) Balclutha fire chief Graeme Ferguson said Balclutha firefighters had taken about 15 minutes to cut the trapped man free.

Firefighters from Milton also attended.

At the peak of the incident, more than 20 emergency service personnel were at the scene, including St John Ambulance staff and ambulances from Balclutha, Lawrence and Mosgiel, and two Otago Regional Rescue helicopters.

A Serious Crash Unit officer from Invercargill visited the scene and inquiries were ongoing.

The road remained closed to all traffic until after 5pm and one lane was opened for heavy vehicles after then.

• A driver received treatment at the scene after their car hit a ditch on a gravel road yesterday evening, 10km northeast of Alexandra.

Police were called to the scene at Kelliher Lane, at 5.15pm. Two fire trucks and an ambulance were also called.

The car had one occupant. 

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