Five people have been injured, including one critically, in a multiple-vehicle crash near Wānaka this afternoon.
A police spokesman said the crash happened on Cardrona Valley Rd about 4pm.
A Hato Hone St John spokesman said three rescue helicopters, two ambulances, a rapid response unit and two operations managers were sent to the scene.
He said one person was was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition and another person was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital in a serious condition.
A third person was also airlifted to Dunedin Hospital but their condition was not known, he said.
A fourth person was in a serious condition and the fifth person was in a moderate condition, and both were taken by ambulance to Dunstan Hospital, he said.
The police spokesman said the road was still closed and traffic heading over the Crown Range was being diverted via State Highway 6 through the Kawarau Gorge.
However, people commenting on the Queenstown Lakes District Council Facebook page said a detour had been set up through a paddock for some locals.
The spokesman said motorists were being asked to avoid the area, and the road was expected to remain closed for much of tonight while the Serious Crash Unit carried out an investigation and the scene was cleared.
