One dead, five injured in Picton crash

A 17-year-old man is dead and five other young people are injured after a single vehicle crash near Picton last night.

The crash happened on State Highway 1 at Koromiko, 8km south west of Picton, about 10.20pm, Detective Kris Payne said.

Six people were in the double cab ute when it crashed off the road and into a ditch, he said.

All of the occupants were under 18-years-old and were from Picton.

The 17-year-old died at the scene, police said.

Another 17-year-old man is in a critical condition in Wellington Hospital, while four others suffered minor to moderate injuries and were taken to Wairau Hospital in Blenheim.

Police were having problems contacting the dead man's next of kin as they were on holiday this weekend, Mr Payne said.

The road has been reduced to one lane while police try to identify the cause of the crash.

- NZPA