Six hurt in serious crash in South Otago

Six people were taken to hospital following the crash. Photo / File

Six people have been injured this morning after a van carrying a shearing gang skidded on black ice and crashed in South Otago.

The van left the road and rolled near Clinton at around 6.40am.

Two helicopters were scrambled to the scene.

Six people, believed to be workers from a Milton shearing gang, were taken to hospital, Southern District Command centre Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said.

St John spokesman Ian Henderson said two people were flown to Dunedin Hospital in a serious condition.

The remaining four people were taken by road to Clutha Hospital with conditions varying from moderate to serious.

Police said it appeared that black ice had played a part in the crash.

Black ice had been behind "about a dozen" incidents across Southland and Otago today, Mr Benn said.

Light drizzle had frozen on the roads and made conditions extremely dangerous, police warned.

Three grit trucks have working in the area but some roads still had to be closed due to the "extreme" conditions.

"This is the reality of living in these rural areas," Mr Benn said.

Motorists needed to plan their journey, leave early and be patient on the roads, he said.