Ice factor in crashes; two injured

ICY roads in South Otago resulted in two crashes near Kaitangata and Balclutha last night.

Two people sustained moderate injuries after their truck rolled down a bank.

A police media spokeswoman said the crash happened a couple of kilometres north of Balclutha, and the road was ‘‘very icy’’.

Police were called shortly after 7pm and St John also attended.

A car crashing into a bank was reported at Kaitangata about 6.40pm.

Noone was injured and police requested a grit truck from the council to combat the icy conditions in the area, the spokeswoman said.

Another noninjury crash happened between Cromwell and Luggate about 9.50pm when a car went off the road. The cause was unknown.

About 6.30pm, a car rolled at Clark’s Junction, south of Middlemarch, causing minor injuries to a 22yearold woman.

A Heavy rain and snow has been forecast around Otago for tomorrow and Wednesday.

The MetService has predicted snow down to about 400m, and black ice warnings abounded last night.

Yesterday, there were no specific weather warnings in place for Queenstown, Central Otago or Dunedin. Forecast top daytime temperatures were in a range of 6degC to 10degC.

Otago’s forecast is for mainly fine and frosty weather, with persistent low cloud or fog in some inland valleys.

However, black ice warnings were in place for Mossburn to Te Anau and further towards Te Anau Downs, between Winton and Mataura, and also Omarama to Twizel.

Ice warnings were in place for Kawarau Gorge to Gibbston, Cromwell to Omarama, Kingston to Frankton, Alexandra to Raes Junction and Alexandra to Kyeburn.