Woman dead after SUV rolls

Emergency services tend to a patient following a serious crash near Balclutha yesterday. Photo / supplied.

A woman was thrown from a vehicle and died at the scene of a crash on State Highway 1 north of Balclutha yesterday.

The driver, a 71-year-old man, was flown by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition.

The couple were from Southland and the crash happened as the SsangYong Rexton SUV they were travelling in tried to overtake another vehicle in a passing lane at Stony Creek about 10km north of Balclutha at 9.15am, Clutha-Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Alastair Dickie said.

The vehicle went out of control before it careered into a bank and through a fence, he said.

The vehicle rolled several times before it stopped in a paddock about 30m from the road.

It was extensively damaged, Snr Sgt Dickie said.

It was unclear what caused the 69-year-old female passenger to be thrown from the vehicle.

Police were unable to comment further as inquiries into the accident were still continuing, he said.

The police serious crash team was investigating and examined the scene yesterday.The passing lane where the incident occurred was relatively short and in a "hilly and bendy" area, Snr Sgt Dickie said.

"I've never been comfortable with the passing lane that goes downhill."

The road was reduced to one lane for the morning while emergency services dealt with the crash.

Police, fire and St John services from Balclutha responded to the incident.