Two crashes at Queenstown's Devil's Staircase

Frankton Fire station officers Andrew Doole (left) and Karl Argyle at the Devil's Staircase crash near Queenstown yesterday. Photo / Louise Scott.

Two crashes in as many days resulted in vehicles rolling after incidents in Queenstown over the weekend.

Yesterday, a 30-year-old man from Invercargill was the sole occupant of a car when it "flipped several times," on State Highway 6's Devil's Staircase, say Queenstown police.

Sergeant Keith Newell told the Otago Daily Times at the scene, the man was travelling from Queenstown towards Kingston when the accident happened shortly after 2.20pm.

"He has struck a bank and the car flipped several times before coming to a rest."

The man suffered minor injuries and was taken to Lakes District Hospital by St John Ambulance staff for assessment.

Sgt Newell said an accident between Glenorchy and Queenstown on Saturday, when the vehicle also rolled, was due to distraction.

Two people received minor injuries during the one-vehicle collision shortly before 1.30pm.

He confirmed a 27-year-old female tourist was driving.

"She's been distracted, braked for a corner, tried to over-correct, hit the bank and the car has flipped."

Two appliances from Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade and an Ambulance crew from Glenorchy attended the scene.
Sgt Newell urged drivers to take care on roads despite the natural beauty.

"It is picturesque but people should take heed and keep speed down."

He stressed the importance of driving to conditions as roads get busier in the lead up to the peak summer season.