St John paramedics injured in crash

Police are investigating after three paramedics were injured in a crash in South Otago yesterday.

Three St John staff working as a specialist motorsport medical team for the Silver Fern Rally were injured when the car they were in crashed about 3.15pm yesterday.

One of the crew was flown to Dunedin Hospital for treatment, while the other two were taken to a medical centre.

Emergency services were called to Puerua Valley Rd, about 20km south of Balclutha, following the crash.

Police attended the crash, and a spokeswoman said the vehicle involved was a St John vehicle carrying three paramedics.

"The police inquiries into the crash are ongoing," she said.

St John assistant director of operations Derek Liefting confirmed the injured people were paramedics.

"The car was not an ambulance and was not transporting patients," he said.

"It was a car carrying a specialist St John motorsport medical team who were providing paramedic cover at the rally."

St John was unwilling to comment further on the crash or  condition of its personnel last night. Course clerk Wayne Barnard said the incident occurred after the completion of stage 33, which finished north of Romahapa.

The rally has run since the 1960s. Competitors start in Christchurch and race south through Canterbury, Otago and Southland before heading north to finish again in Christchurch.

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