Woman seriously injured after losing her balance and crashing scooter in Queenstown

Emergency services attend to the woman after the motor scooter accident on Shotover St. Photo / James Allan

A woman has been seriously injured after crashing a scooter - mere metres from the central Queenstown store she'd rented it from.

She had hired the scooter earlier this evening from the Little Willy's Scooter Rentals Ltd on Shotover Street.

A store employee said the woman had said she was experienced with small bikes.

"She hired a normal scooter and said she had driven one before and was really comfortable.

"Unfortunately it didn't go well and she has lost her balance or something. The poor thing. I hope she is okay.

"She was literally just leaving and was only going at about 5km/h."

The woman has been transported to Lakes District Hospital with serious injuries after crashing the scooter she had hired moments earlier from Little Willy's Scooter Rentals in Shotover St. Photo / James Allan

The woman was transported to Lakes District Hospital with serious injuries.

A police spokesperson said they were called about the crash at 5.51 this evening. She said three cars were sent to the scene and officers diverted traffic as the crash was cleared.

Emergency services attend to the woman after the motor scooter accident on Shotover St. Photo / James Allan

Little Willy's Scooter Rentals Ltd opened its doors just two weeks ago.

The store employee said it had done all the appropriate checks.

"The thing is, in New Zealand if you have a valid driver's licence then you can rent a scooter.

"Of course we always ask if someone is confident and we run them through using it, but when this kind of thing happens it is very sad."

"We are all a bit shocked."