Tourist bus and car collide near Queenstown closing highway

One person is dead and 10 are injured after a crash between a car and a tourist bus at Kingston, near Queenstown, closing State Highway 6.

Police received a call at 7.21am and dispatched cars to the scene.

One person, who was a passenger in the car, died in the crash, police confirmed.

A passenger in the car has died in this morning's crash. Photo / James Allan

The driver of the car is still trapped inside and emergency services are working to rescue the person.

A St John spokesman said one patient has critical injuries and is being flown to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter.

Three others with moderate injuries and six with minor injuries are being transported to Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown.

A witness said the crash scene was about 6km south of Kingston, at a dip on the brow of a hill.

The tourist bus was 5m off the road and up a bank, the witness said.

Emergency services at the scene of the crash. Photo / ODT

The bus, which appears to have been travelling south, is upright, but on a lean.

There are multiple emergency services at the scene, including at least six police cars, two fire engines and an ambulance. Two ambulances have already left the scene.

St John said it has dispatched two helicopters.

People sitting in the queue of traffic, which is at least 1km long on the north side of the crash, have been told the road may be closed for up to five hours.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said the highway was closed, near Allandale Rd, south of Kingston following the crash.

A worker from Kingston Corner Cafe and Bar, which sits on State Highway 6, said staff noticed police and fire engines with sirens and lights on at 7.55am. They were heading southbound from Kingston, the worker said.

The accident follows another crash involving a car and a bus carrying 14 tourists near the Devil's Staircase south of Queenstown two weeks ago in which one person died.

The bus operator in that accident, Southern Discoveries, said the driver of the car died at the scene.

The bus passengers were uninjured.

- Additional reporting: Otago Daily Times