Three tourists die in head-on collision near Lake Pu¯kaki

Three Chinese tourists from the same family are dead after a headon crash in South Canterbury that one witness described as ‘‘catastrophic’’.

Another five people were injured after a four-wheel-drive and a car collided on Braemar Rd, between its intersection with Tekapo-Twizel Rd (State Highway 8) and Hayman Rd at 11am yesterday.

The road is unsealed and a popular scenic detour taking in the edge of Lake Pu¯ kaki.

A Chinese Embassy spokeswoman said police told her the three dead were part of a group of five adults from China. The two others in the group were in Dunedin Hospital, she said.

The spokeswoman said the consulate had spoken with one of the two survivors about informing their family in China of the crash.

‘‘We need to get their permission to contact their family members. At this moment we haven’t got confirmation from the injured people at this very panicked situation. They need time to figure out their situation.’’

The spokeswoman would not say when the family had arrived in the country or their ages.

Speaking to the media from near the crash scene, Senior Sergeant Anthony Callon said the collision occurred on the brow of a small hill. All the occupants of both cars were wearing seatbelts, he said.

‘‘Any crash is an absolute tragedy, and in this case three people have died. It doesn’t get much worse than that.’’

Braemar Station Shearers Lodge owner Hamish Mackenzie arrived at the scene shortly after the crash.

‘‘It was a head-on between some tourists and a logging crew ... a double-cab sort of thing.’’

The crash was a ‘‘sickening’’ mess. ‘‘I’ve never seen anything that catastrophic. When you see that sort of thing so close to home you certainly get shaken up from it.’’

St John Ambulance spokesman Gerard Campbell said three people in a serious condition were taken to Dunedin Hospital and two in a moderate condition were taken to Timaru Hospital.