A Dunedin woman is dead after a head-on crash between a truck and a car on State Highway 1 north of Hampden yesterday morning which closed the road for nearly six hours.
Emergency services were called to the scene, by the Big Kuri Creek bridge on the northern outskirts of Hampden, about 11.30am.
Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy, of Oamaru, said a 64-year-old Dunedin woman died at the scene.
Police will not be releasing her name until next of kin have been advised.
The driver of the northbound truck did not sustain any injuries as a result of the crash, but was shocked and shaken, Snr Sgt McCoy said.
Both drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles.
Snr Sgt McCoy said the Serious Crash Unit had attended and investigations were continuing.
The truck involved in the crash was signwritten as a Campbell's Butchery vehicle, but was no longer owned by the Oamaru-based company.
Campbell's Butchery owner Tony Campbell said he sold the vehicle to the driver involved in yesterday's crash.
Mr Campbell said he had spoken to the driver yesterday and offered his support.
There were no detours available yesterday and when the road reopened about 5.15pm yesterday, traffic was backed up as far as the Mill House to the north.
''There's been a lot of frustration,'' Snr Sgt McCoy said and thanked motorists for their patience while police investigated.
NZTA Otago and Southland senior communications adviser Bob Nettleton said variable-message signs were stationed at the start of the Northern Motorway in Dunedin and Timaru, advising motorists of the crash and delays.
''In Oamaru and in Palmerston, traffic was also stopped and drivers advised of the closure,'' Mr Nettleton said.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher, whose wife and daughter became stuck in southbound traffic yesterday, contacted the Waianakarua Hall committee to have the hall opened to allow stranded motorists to use the toilets.
The committee had ''kindly agreed to do so''.
''It's another sad tragedy for our district and our thoughts are with those affected,'' Mr Kircher said.
