Six people injured in Waimate crash

File photo / NZ Herald

One person is in a critical condition and five more were injured after a crash in Waimate in the early hours of the morning.

Senior Sergeant Mike Brooklands said emergency services were called to the scene about 12.15am.

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The accident occurred after a vehicle left the road at speed and rolled multiple times in a paddock on Hakataramea Valley Rd in Waimate.

A 25-year-old male was transported to Christchurch Hospital in critical condition and a 22-year-old female was also taken to Christchurch in a serious condition.

Two other patients were taken to Dunedin hospital and another two were taken to Timaru Hospital.

"Apparently it was chaos," Mr Brooklands said.

Mr Brooklands said it appears the occupants of the car had been drinking and none of them were wearing seatbelts.