Ice is believed to be the likely cause of a car crash in the Catlins on Sunday night which resulted in a woman being flown to hospital with severe injuries.
Senior Constable Tom Taylor, of Balclutha, said the vehicle ``hit some ice and careered off the road'' into a tree about 8.15pm.
Owaka Volunteer Fire Brigade Deputy Chief Fire Officer Kerry Chambers said fire services were sent from Owaka, Kaka Point and Papatowai to the crash scene on the Papatowai Highway near the border between Otago and Southland.
Due to the icy conditions, both the Kaka Point and Papatowai fire brigades were stood down.
It was very icy and emergency services ``had trouble standing up''.
Firefighters had to cut the roof from the crashed vehicle to extract one of the occupants. Five people were in the car.
St John communications adviser Ian Henderson said a woman in her 20s was flown to Dunedin Hospital with severe injuries.
Another two people were taken to Clutha Health First by ambulance with moderate injuries.
A police spokesman said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
There was no update yesterday on the condition of the woman flown to Dunedin.
Clutha District Council communications co-ordinator Rachel Askew said the Papatowai Highway was gritted by council contractors on Sunday night after it was inspected during the day.
