One dead after Dunedin motorway crash

Traffic is backed up on the Northern Motorway after an accident near Leith Saddle. Photo / Gregor Richardson

A haulage firm boss says his thoughts are with the family of a car driver who died in a crash with one of his company’s vehicles on Dunedin’s Northern Motorway this morning.

The crash happened shortly before 8am on State Highway 1, about 200m south of the Leith Valley Rd turnoff at Pigeon Flat.

The highway was closed for several hours in both directions, but about 1.15pm Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advised the road had reopened to northbound traffic, but motorists should expect delays.

It was still closed to southbound traffic.

Hilton Haulage chief executive Dylan Fitzgerald said the collision was between one of the company’s bulk units and a car.

“Safety is a key focus at Hilton Haulage and it is extremely upsetting for us to learn of an accident which has resulted in death and injury,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The company’s thoughts were with the family of the deceased car driver.

“Our driver received minor injuries and was supported by St John Ambulance and by other Hilton Haulage drivers who arrived on the scene very soon after the accident,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The company would continue to offer support to the driver, as well as to his colleagues, over the coming days.

The company would fully co-operate with investigators and would be providing dashcam footage to police, Mr Fitzgerald said.

A Hato Hone St John spokeswoman said they received the first call regarding the crash at 7.52am.

An ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and a clinical manager responded.

One patient with minor injuries was treated at the scene, the spokeswoman said.

An Otago Daily Times photographer at the scene shortly after the accident said that the road was completely blocked with a large emergency services presence at the scene.

A big queue of traffic, mostly made up of trucks, could be seen on the northern side of the crash.

Cars were being let through Leith Valley Rd, but there was no sign of any cars travelling north, the photographer said.