Three dead after two serious smashes close southern highway in south Canterbury and Otago

Three people have died in two serious truck crashes on South Island roads this morning.

Two people died after their car collided head-on with a truck about 3am on State Highway 1 near Dunedin.

Police said the female passenger died at the scene and the male driver, who suffered serious injuries after being trapped in the vehicle, died a short time later.

The crash happened near Riversdale Rd, East Taieri-Allanton.

ROAD CLOSED: #SH1 Allanton, Coastal Otago, due to another serious crash. Detour in place. #DriveSafe ^EL pic.twitter.com/cNpVvv1avB

— Waka Kotahi Otago & Southland (@WakaKotahiOS) March 30, 2017

The highway was closed while serious crash investigators examined the scene.

Diversions at the airport turn-off and Riccarton Rd lasted several hours before the road was re-opened mid-morning.

The second fatality, also involving a truck and car, happened about 3am on SH1 south of Makikihi, South Canterbury.

Police say the driver of the car died at the scene but the truck driver was treated for minor injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle.

The highway was closed and diversions were put in place. The road was also reopened to traffic mid-morning.

ROAD CLOSED: #SH1 Makikihi, South Canterbury due to a serious crash. Contractors onsite with a detour in place. #TakeExtraCare ^EL pic.twitter.com/wcKs8JK2tY

— Waka Kotahi Otago & Southland (@WakaKotahiOS) March 30, 2017

The police serious crash unit will be investigating the smash.