Two critically injured, one airlifted after serious crash in rural Canterbury

Lyford said the crash’s exact location was at the top of Porters Pass, just before Lake Lyndon. Photo / Matt Crawford

Two people have been critically injured, with one of them being airlifted to hospital, after a serious car crash in rural Canterbury.

Fire and Emergency confirmed the single-vehicle crash, which occurred on State Highway 73, West Coast Rd, in Selwyn.

Police said they were called to the crash at roughly 5.30am Earlier they said initial reports of the crash suggested serious injuries.

Fire and Emergency shift manager Simon Lyford said fire units from Springfield and Sheffield responded to the crash.

The incident involved one car. He said police and ambulance were also in attendance and treated two patients.

One was taken to the hospital by helicopter.

Lyford said the crash’s exact location was at the top of Porters Pass, just before Lake Lyndon.

The road in question has been reduced to one lane. Lyford said police are currently managing traffic.

“There’s no real detours, so they’ll be trying to open the road back up as quickly as possible”

A spokesperson for St John said a rapid response vehicle and two ambulances responded to the incident, treating both patients at the scene.

“Both [were] transported to Christchurch hospital,” the spokesperson said.