A 21-year-old farm worker was hit by a hatchback while crossing a Southland highway today, sustaining serious internal injuries.
Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin, said a 76-year-old Invercargill woman, travelling alone in a white Subaru Impreza hatchback, collided with the man on a bend on the Lumsden-Dipton Highway about 4pm.
The worker, who lived in the area, had crossed State Highway 6, about 8km south of Lumsden, to open a farm gate and was returning across the highway when he was hit by the car.
The area of highway has a 100kmh speed limit.
The worker was hit on the front left-hand side of the car and was thrown several metres to a grass verge on the roadside.
The worker sustained serious internal injuries and was flown to Dunedin Hospital by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter.
The road was closed in both directions but was reopened about 6pm, he said.
A serious crash investigation had been launched, he said.
A St John spokesman said the woman was assessed and required no treatment.
