One dead as car hits boulder and catches fire

Police have confirmed a person is dead after a car left the road and crashed into a boulder and burst into flames in Central Otago yesterday.

The single vehicle crash happened on the Tarras-Cromwell Highway near Tarras, at 3pm yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Brian Cameron of Queenstown Police said the single vehicle crash involved a Toyota Previa leaving the road and hitting a large boulder embedded in the bank.

"This caused the vehicle to roll, trapping one person inside the vehicle, which caught fire.

While five of the occupants managed to escape, the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames, stopping any attempt to rescue the person inside."

The person trapped in the vehicle was killed.

Five others were also transported to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Fire and Emergency spokesman Daryl Ball said the fire in the car caused a small vegetation fire, which was extinguished by fire crews.

Crews from Cromwell, Tarras and Luggate attended the accident.

An Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter was also at the scene yesterday.