Man critical after car, milk tanker collide

File photo / Ross Setford

A man has been critically injured in a crash between his car and a milk tanker near the Manawatu town of Sanson.

Police said the man in his mid-40s crossed the centre line before his BMW collided with the tanker about 3km south of Sanson at about 8:40am.

The man was taken to Palmerston North Hospital with status one - or critical - injuries.

The force of the collision left the milk tanker on its side in a drainage ditch adjacent to State Highway 3.

Its driver was shaken but unharmed.

Emergency services were working to drain the milk from the vehicle, a police spokeswoman said

That work was expected to leave the section of road closed for at least another two hours, she said.

An investigation into the crash has been launched.