One person has been flown to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition following a two-vehicle crash on the Crown Range Road.
Emergency services were notified of a crash near the summit of the road, linking Queenstown and Wānaka, about 6.30am today.
A spokesperson for Hato Hone St John said two patients were initially treated at the scene.
One patient in a critical condition was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital and the other person was transported to Lakes District Hospital by ambulance in a moderate condition, they said.
The accident occurred on the Wānaka side of the alpine pass and was also attended by police, a Wānaka fire appliance and the Otago Rescue Helicopter, a shift manager for Fire and Emergency NZ said.
The fire service was first asked by police to help with the accident, and then received a separate 111 call from a member of the public saying a person was trapped, he said.
The road was closed while emergency services worked to free the person and reopened by 10.20am.
It was not clear what the road conditions were like at the time of the crash, but the Crown Range webcam at the summit showed foggy conditions were clearing.
Police said the Serious Crash Unit had been advised.
"Due to ongoing inquiries into the crash, there is no further information we can provide at this time."
- additional reporting by Regan Harris and ODT Online
