Police seek witnesses to crash

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed this crash (at right), which occurred at 5.10pm on State Highway 6 near Glenda Dr, Queenstown. Four people were taken to hospital following the incident with an Indian man later airlifted to Dunedin Hospital and his front-seat passenger, an Indian woman, airlifted to Southland Hospital. Photo by NZ Police.

Sergeant Keith Newell, of Queenstown, said the "high-impact" incident occurred about 5.10pm when a car and van collided in the 80kmh zone.

The rental car was carrying Indian tourists who had driven from Franz Josef and were heading for Queenstown, while the van was driven by a 22-year-old Queenstown man and was registered to Remarkable Electrical.

The vehicles collided head-on, resulting in lengthy traffic delays for those heading into the CBD for the Queenstown Winter Festival opening party and fireworks display.

The driver of the van received a broken leg and facial injuries and was transported to Lakes District Hospital.

The driver of the car, a 23-year-old Indian man, was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with abdominal injuries.

He was in a stable condition in the high-dependency ward of Dunedin Hospital last night.

A 26-year-old woman, also from India, was transported to Southland Hospital with a fractured femur.

Sgt Newell said initial information suggested the rental car had crossed the double yellow centre line, but inquiries were continuing.

It was "likely" charges would be laid.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to contact police, he said.