Two South Island crashes see both cars roll down banks and serious injuries

Fire and Emergency New Zealand confirmed the car was travelling down Mount Cook Rd when it fell down the bank.

Emergency services in the South Island have been busy in the last hour, responding to two crashes where both cars had rolled down banks.

The first incident, occurring shortly after lunchtime saw a car end up down a bank near Mount Cook.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) confirmed the car was travelling down Mount Cook Rd when it fell down the bank on State Highway 80 near Boundary Stream bridge.

Police confirmed only one car was involved, and emergency services were called shortly after 12pm.

The Serious Crash Unit has been alerted to the incident and it’s understood there are serious injuries.

“Motorists have been asked to avoid the area,” a statement from police said.

Around an hour later, a truck rolled down a bank near Two Mile Creek Bridge on the Kawatiri-Murchison Highway and required an occupant to be rescued.

Three fire crews, including a specialist rescue team from Nelson were called to the rural crash site to help extricate the passenger.

Police said the highway was closed at Rait Rd and east of Two Mile Bridge to traffic as emergency services and contractors attend a truck crash.

“Contractors have closed the road to allow the crash scene to be investigated and cleared,” a statement said.

“The closure is expected to last for some time, and there is no estimate for when the highway will reopen.”

As there are no local detours, people travelling between Nelson and Murchison and the West Coast should avoid the area, police said, use an alternative route, or delay their travel until the highway is reopened.