Nine injured as van ploughs into cattle

A van carrying nine people from Timaru to Dunedin for a stag party early this morning ploughed into a small herd of cattle which had wandered onto a road, injuring all the occupants.

Dunedin police Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said the crash occurred around 12.30am on State Highway 1 between Waikouaiti and Waitati.

Some of the occupants were thrown through the windscreen and one was flown to Dunedin Hospital after suffering serious injuries.

The driver had to be cut from the wreckage by the fire service and received hip and leg injuries. The remaining seven had minor injuries with many being treated at the scene.

Mr Benn said the herd appeared to have found its way off a nearby farm via an open gate.

A bull took the brunt of the impact and was killed. When police arrived they had to put down two cows and a calf which had also been hit.

He said police had spoken with the owner of the cattle but until the serious crash unit had completed its investigation it was too early to say whether he might face charges.

"It's one aspect we'll be looking at, what his responsibilities are."

- NZPA