Scene examination shuts Queenstown highway for eight hours

Police have confirmed the serious crash unit was required at the scene of a two vehicle crash that closed a main route into Queenstown for close to eight hours on Tuesday.

A spokesperson says a van and a ute were involved in the crash, which happened at approximately 7.20am on Tuesday on State Highway 6 near Bendemeer Lane.

As a result, the highway was closed between McDonnell Road and Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road, with a detour in place.

It was re-opened at approximately 3.40pm.

The spokesperson says this allowed the serious crash unit to conduct a scene examination.

Three people were injured in the crash, two of whom were taken to Lakes District Hospital, one in a serious condition.

A helicopter and three ambulances were sent to the scene.

Bendemeer Lane resident Di Bowbyes says she has been scrambling to help movers pack up her home today, after their truck was caught up in Tuesday's road closure.

She says the crew left Dunedin at 5am but were stopped on the highway and unable to access her property, despite it being clear of the crash site.

"They sat in the cab of their truck until about 4.30 in the afternoon."

Now, what was planned to be a three day project is having to be crammed into two days.

She says this is the latest in a string of crashes in the region that have resulted in lengthly road closures.

The police spokesperson says members of the serious crash unit are based in Invercargill, Dunedin and Central Otago and work on an on-call basis.

"Depending on the situation, officers in Invercargill may need to travel to Central Otago for a crash, for example."

The unit is made up of specialist officers who work to determine the cause of a crash and whether it may have been preventable.

There is a policy that dictates when their skills are required at a crash.

This includes crashes where there has been a death or a serious injury that could result in death, serious crashes where there is potential for high public interest, and potentially serious crashes wit injuries to children under 10 or adults over 65.

Note: Story updated Thursday, August 22 to include updated comment from police on the serious crash unit