Multiple people have died at the scene of a crash near Queens Park, Invercargill. Video / George Heard
Multiple people have been killed in a road crash in central Invercargill - a horror start to the long weekend.
Witnesses have described hearing a loud explosion as a concrete truck and 4WD vehicle collided in central Invercargill just before 4pm on Friday.
Police detective inspector Stuart Harvey said emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash on Queens Drive, near Queens Park. "Sadly, multiple people died at the scene."
The number of victims has not yet been released.
A man who lived nearby said he heard "a big bang".
There were three men in the truck and they were visibly distressed, he said. One was walking up and down the footpath while the others stayed in the cab.
The resident said he went back inside once police arrived. It was "quite obvious" they did not want bystanders around and it had started to rain.
Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash, involving a heavy motor vehicle and a motor vehicle just before 4pm. Photo / George Heard
The Serious Crash Unit has been called in to investigate and Harvey said police wanted to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash.
Tarpaulins were erected around the crash site and Queens Drive has been closed between St Andrew St and King St overnight. Motorists should take an alternative route.
Nearby residents, and other locals who have travelled past the crash site, earlier posted online about a large number of fire engines, ambulances and police cars at the scene.
It had been raining in Invercargill on Friday.
Emergency services at the scene. Photo / Otago Daily Times, Ben Tomsett
A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said they had responded to a crash involving a car and a truck. There were people trapped when they arrived and firefighters were still at the scene just after 5.30pm.
A St John spokeswoman said two ambulances and two management personnel attended.
They were only required to assess one person, who did not require transportation to Dunedin Hospital.
When asked about the condition of other vehicle occupants, she referred comment to police.
Last weekend, four people died on New Zealand's roads during the official Easter Weekend holiday road toll period. That was down on nine from 2021.
Ahead of the long weekend with Anzac Day on Monday, police urged people to be careful on the roads and specifically monitor their speed. - NZ Herald and ODT
• Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105 quoting event number P050332364. Information can also be passed on anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
