KEY POINTS:
The Central Otago shearing community is devastated at the loss of two of their own after a van crash early this morning.
Two people are dead and three others seriously injured after the crash.
A shearing gang had been travelling in a van when the accident happened on Omakau-Ida Valley Rd northeast of Poolburn about 6.30am, St John Central Otago district operations manager Peter Grayland said.
The three seriously injured were flown by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital and another person, with moderate injuries, was taken to Dunstan Hospital, in Clyde, by ambulance.
No other vehicle was involved in the crash which happened on a straight stretch of a tar-sealed country road.
A Mt Ida Shearing Ltd spokeswoman said it was a "horrific accident" which had upset the "very close" local shearing community".
She said they were "sensitive" about it today and did not wish to say more.
Police confirmed a section of the Omakau-Ida Valley road had been closed after a serious accident. They said they would issue a statement at 1pm.
- NZPA
