The driver of the 4WD that left the road in a high-country crash near Omarama on Thursday, killing the lone passenger, is recovering in Dunedin Hospital, police say.
Patricia Standish-White (88), of Nelson, died when she was thrown from the vehicle as it plunged 200m down a tussock-and-scree-covered slope about 11.20am at Ben Omar station.
Her 89-year-old husband, who was also thrown from the vehicle during the crash, underwent surgery at Dunedin Hospital yesterday morning and was recovering in hospital with his family at his side, Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said last night.
"With his age of 89, and with various injuries, we were very concerned for him,'' Sgt Woodbridge said.
"But he is through surgery now, he is with his family now, and he is in the best place he can be.''
Sgt Woodbridge said the vehicle that left the road was not the lead vehicle in the convoy of nine 4WD vehicles trekking through the upper Waitaki high country, but the group of drivers, all of whom were believed to be from the Nelson area, had a number of experienced drivers among them.
"It is an amazingly scenic area but obviously a dangerous area; you need to be experienced,'' Sgt Woodbridge said.
The route provided "extreme 4WD'' opportunities and was well used by hunters.
The group, most of whom were of retirement age, had the owner's permission to use the area.
Members of the party who were retired doctors reached the victims before emergency services arrived at the scene.
Sgt Woodbridge said those who attended to their friend had done an "amazing job'', before the man was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital.
Constable Nayland Smith, of Omarama, who was also at the scene on Thursday, said the slope had a roughly 45-degree gradient.
The crash occurred at 1086m above sea level, roughly 7km from the homestead at the station.
He said the road, a farm access track, was well maintained, but seldom used.
Access to the site of the crash was difficult as the track was "tricky and treacherous'', but emergency services arrived within the hour, Sgt Woodbridge said.
The community had rallied yesterday, he said, providing support for members of the group as well as emergency services at the scene.
WorkSafe was informed of the incident but police were leading the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing.
The owner of the station could not be reached yesterday.
