A tourist bus has crashed on the Athol Five Rivers Highway in Southland, with four people taken to hospital amid “treacherous” black ice and fog in the area.
Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 6 at 8.30am.
Four people were taken to Southland Hospital with injuries — one in serious condition, two in moderate condition, and one in minor condition, according to Hato Hone St John.
The 25-seater bus could be seen on its side at the crash site, resting on grass, with police inspecting the vehicle.
Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Maguire told 1News there was “very, very serious black ice,” in addition to “very heavy fog” in the area at the time of the crash.
“We’re at the very early stages of our investigation. All I can really tell you is that we’re facing quite treacherous weather conditions.”
The bus was carrying a group of tourists from China who were travelling from Queenstown to Milford Sound, the police acting senior sergeant said.
“They’ve made it through to Five Rivers, and obviously they’ve struck the black ice.”
He said there were around a dozen passengers and a driver onboard.
Passengers not hospitalised have been taken to Lumsden, Maguire added.
St John said eight people were “assessed at the scene” in a minor condition and three ambulances were sent to the crash.
The Chinese Consultate said, in a statement to 1News, it was “closely following the situation of the injured and will provide consular assistance and support”.
“We once again remind Chinese citizens planning to travel to New Zealand… the South Island of New Zealand is now in winter. Weather conditions are highly changeable. Rain and snow will make roads slippery with the frequent presence of ‘black ice’.
“We strongly urge Chinese tourists raise the safety awareness, strictly observe traffic rules, drive slowly and cautiously, and avoid sudden braking or sharp turns.”
Police also urged drivers to be careful around any locations of potential black ice in the area this morning.
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“We’ve had some very, very serious black ice, which wasn’t necessarily evident to the drivers as they were passing through,” Maguire said.
“But once you step out of your vehicle, you’ve got an understanding of just how slippery underfoot it was, and you may not have necessarily detected that while driving.”
Drivers in the area were urged to take alternative routes where possible.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said crews from Mossburn, Lumsden, Garston and Athol were at the scene earlier. They added that no one was trapped in the bus.
