The road was expected to be closed for some time, said the statement.
Desert Rd, State Highway 47, was closed from 9am this morning after a truck rolled. No one was injured in the crash.
However, three people died and two others were seriously injured after a crash in Canterbury early this morning.
Two men and a woman died at the scene of the crash in Leeston.
A police spokeswoman said a member of the public rang emergency services about 2.20am after coming across the rolled car near the corner of Harts and Southbridge Sedgemere Roads.
"Three occupants, two males and a female, were dead at the scene and two others were transported to hospital, one with serious injuries.
"Next of kin are in the process of being advised."
The Serious Crash Unit is investigating.
Meanwhile, a 83-year-old woman who died after being hit by a car in Takapuna, Auckland, on Friday night has been named as Myung Wha Lim.
Lim's death was the first of the Christmas road toll period, following the crash on Taharoto Rd shortly before 7pm on Friday.
Clifford Irving, 66, from Lower Hutt, died following a collision between a motorcycle and a ute on State Highway 2 in south Wairarapa yesterday evening.
Sione Taumalolo, 11, and Talita Moimoi, 33, died when a bus crashed down a 100 metre bank in Gisborne on Christmas Eve.
The official holiday road period began at 4pm on Friday, December 23, and runs until 6am on Wednesday, January 4.
Last year's Christmas road toll was 12, from 244 reported injury crashes.
