Two children critical after Timaru crash

The crash occurred just south of Timaru around 3.50pm. Photo / Google Maps

Two children suffered critical injuries in a three-car crash in which six people were hurt this afternoon.

The incident occurred about 10km south of Timaru about 3.50pm, between Sands Rd and the Avenue, on the Timaru-Pareora Highway (State Highway 1).

A St John Ambulance spokesman said two children had been critically injured in the crash.

All six of the injured had been taken to Timaru Hospital while at least one patient was being flown by helicopter to Christchurch hospital.

A police spokesman earlier said that possibly two people were trapped in vehicle.

A subsequent police statement said initial reports were that three vehicles were involved and two helicopters were being sent to the scene.

A Fire Service spokesman said five fire appliances attended, including two carrying the jaws of life, and assisting cutting the victims out of the wrecked vehicles.

Barbara Bowen, who owns the nearby cafe Xpresso Souvlaki Pareora about 100m from the crash scene, said she heard a "huge bang".

"It was really bad crash and they're still working on it," she said when speaking to the Herald about 5.30pm.

"It looks like it was a head-on collision and basically all the cars are right off the road - they're nowhere near the road, they're just off the road. It must have been a pretty bad hit."

Helicopters were coming and going ferrying the injured to hospital.

The road is blocked and diversions are in place.

6.00AM 3 SEP UPDATE: Road is now OPEN ------ 8PM UPDATE The road remains CLOSED. Check our website for further details:...

Posted by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - South Island on Friday, 1 September 2017