Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen
Serious crashes closed parts of two state highways in the South Island on Tuesday afternoon and police say there was one fatality.
Emergency services were called to State Highway 80's Mt Cook Road at Ben Ohau in Canterbury's Mackenzie district shortly after midday.
Police later confirmed that one person died in the single vehicle crash and two others were injured, one critically and one seriously.
Waka Kotahi said the road along Lake Pukaki, south of Glentanner, was closed, but one lane had reopened by Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, State Highway 6, south of Nelson, was closed after a truck crash at Owen Junction after 1pm, but has now reopened with traffic management in place from 8am on Wednesday.
A helicopter had earlier been sent to the scene.
Waka Kotahi said the highway was closed as emergency services and contractors attended to the crash at Two Mile Creek Bridge, north of Murchison.