One critically injured in crash between SUV and truck

Emergency services work to extricate the driver of the SUV involved in a collision on State Highway 1, between Otokia and Henley. Photo / Gerard O'Brien

A man is in a stable condition at Dunedin Hospital after the SUV he was driving and a truck and trailer unit collided near Henley yesterday.

A police spokeswoman said the man was initially in a critical condition following the crash which involved a Temuka Transport truck and trailer unit on State Highway 1, between Otokia and Henley, about 8.30am.

The truck ended up in a ditch beside the main trunk rail line and the late model Volkswagen SUV was left on its roof on the other side of the road. The impact left a large debris field over both lanes of the road.

The driver of the SUV was trapped and had to be freed, she said.

A truck and trailer unit lies in a ditch beside the main trunk rail line. Photo / Gerard O'Brien

The crash happened near the Taieri River Bridge and the turnoff to Henley.

A St John spokeswoman confirmed one person was taken to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition.

One ambulance and one rapid response unit responded to the scene, she said.

The Southern District Health Board said the patient was in a stable condition.

The driver of the truck received minor injuries.

The road was closed for much of the day so the Police Serious Crash Unit could investigate the incident.