Police have yet to decide if charges will be laid against a farmer whose wandering stock were hit by a van yesterday morning, injuring all nine occupants who were heading to Dunedin for a stag party.
The Toyota Hiace van rounded a bend on State Highway 1, 250m south of the Kilmog Creek culvert between Waikouaiti and Waitati, when it "smacked into a bull, some cows and a calf," said Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin.
The culpability over wandering stock lay with the farmer if found negligent.
Police had spoken to the farmer just after the incident, and he was adamant his gate was secure. It was too early to say if charges would be made, he said.
Sgt Benn said it was a "real concern" when stock wandered on roads and farmers had to make sure gates were secure.
"This is a good example of what can happen when stock get on to the road, especially a state highway with vehicles travelling at 100kmh."
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 12.30am yesterday, with the fire service having to free the 55-year-old driver from the wreckage.
The driver was flown to Dunedin Hospital by the Otago Regional Rescue helicopter with two other passengers, one of whom had been thrown through the windscreen of the van.
The remaining passengers received treatment at the scene for minor injuries.
The driver, the father of one of the party participants, was in a stable condition at Dunedin Hospital yesterday after receiving treatment for a hip fracture. The other two men were later released after receiving treatment.
Sgt Benn said the livestock involved in the accident had to be destroyed, with six other cows herded back through an open farm gate.
• Police in Dunedin were last night kept busy chasing a sheep and two lambs wandering beside the southern motorway, near Abbotsford, about 7.45pm and a cow wandering beside the northern motorway, just north of Pine Hill.
