Two dead after horrific Otago crash

Traffic backed up behind the scene of a fatal crash in Otago this morning and inset, the wreckage of the truck and car involved. Photos / Oamaru Mail

Two men were killed in a horrific crash north of Palmerston, Otago, this morning.

The head-on collision between a car and a truck occured in heavy fog at around 5am at the bridge over Baghdad Creek.

Oamaru police Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said the force of the impact sent the south-bound truck off the bridge and down into the creek, while the north-bound car was thrown into a ditch on the other side of the road.

The truck driver, a Christchurch man in his sixties, died at the scene.

The driver of the car was airlifted to hospital in Dunedin in a critical condition. He died in hospital.

Police have now named him as 23-year-old Scott William Ridley, who was the Waitaki District Council communications and policy support officer.

The truck driver's name cannot be released as formal identification has not yet taken place, say police.

The truck was carrying flour, which mixed with the diesel from the fuel tanks, ruptured on impact and burst into flames.

Another truck driver came upon the scene shortly after the crash and called 111.

When the fire service, police and ambulance staff arrived they found a terrifying inferno engulfing the truck.

Oamaru, Hampden and Palmerston firefighters worked to free the driver of the car and put out the flames.

The fog was so thick the rescue helicopter could not land at the scene and had to touch down in Palmerston. An ambulance raced to the scene and took the driver back to the helicopter.

Mr Woodbridge said SH1 was closed from 5am until around 9.30am. Traffic was backed up to Palmerston in the south and 15-20km to the north. No diversion was possible.

"We'd like to thank drivers for their patience," he said. "Everyone's been really good."

Detective Sergeant Mike Ryder said there was no option other than to close the road.

"I realise the implications of having State Highway 1 closed for any length of time, and particularly when a detour is not available," he said.

"My staff worked extremely hard to get the road open as quickly as possible. The reality is that our work could not be completed until we had some daylight to work by. I would like to thank those who had their travel disrupted and had to wait, some for considerable time."

Officers from the serious crash investigation team and the commercial vehicle inspection unit were at the scene to launch their enquiry.

Removing the truck debris from the creek bed will be "a major job", Mr Woodbridge said.

Heavy lifting equipment will have to be sent up from Dunedin for the task. There is also a substantial diesel slick on the road surface.

Waitaki Civil Defence co-ordinator Chris Raine said the incident saw a "full turn-out of emergency services".

Mr Ryder said the fog this morning was very thick. "Many who regularly travel the road describe these as the worst visibility conditions they have encountered."

He added the truck will be removed from Baghdad Creek tomorrow.

- THE OAMARU MAIL