By Cherie Howie of 
Photo: 123RF
- Seven people have died and several others have been injured in the past 72 hours on our roads
- The crashes have occurred in both islands, and closed or partially closed more than one state highway
- Eight bobby calves were also killed when they were struck on a Coromandel Peninsula highway early Saturday morning
A person is dead after a crash in Balclutha late on Friday night, the seventh fatality on our roads since Wednesday.
Several other people have also been injured in crashes on both main islands, which has led to the closure or partial closure of more than one state highway.
Police were also responding to a workplace incident south of Christchurch about 11.30am. Further details aren't immediately available but it's understood the incident in Glasseys Rd, Southbridge, may be transport-related.
One person was critically injured in a Marlborough crash just after midnight, and two others seriously injured in crashes on Saturday morning, one in the Far North and the other in South Canterbury.
Eight bobby calves were also killed when they were struck on a Coromandel Peninsula highway just before 6am.
The Far North crash occurred near Rangiahua Rd, Hōreke, about 9.20am and had closed a section of SH1, with diversions in place, police said.
"Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries. The Serious Crash Unit has been advised... motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays."
Three ambulances and a rescue helicopter were sent to help, with one person taken to Whangārei Base Hospital with serious injuries, a Hato Hone St John Ambulance spokesman said.
The section of SH1 closed is in the Mangamuka Gorge area and had reopened on Thursday after being closed for more than two years for major repairs, a reader told the Herald.
Fifty-five minutes after the Far North crash, emergency services were called to rural South Canterbury where three people had been injured in a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of SH1 and SH79 in Rangitata.
Three ambulances were sent, with a seriously injured person taken to Christchurch Hospital and two others - one with moderate injuries and the other with minor injuries - taken to Timaru Hospital, the Hato Hone St John Ambulance spokesman said.
SH79 was partially blocked and traffic management is in place, police said.
"Motorists are advised to take care around the area and expect delays."
Saturday morning's fatal South Island crash involved one vehicle and took place just after 10.30am on Balclutha's Gormack St, between Moir St and Barnego Rd, police said.
"The sole occupant died at the scene. The Serious Crash Unit responded, and Gormack St will remain closed until mid-to-late afternoon while the scene is investigated.
"Inquiries into the cause of the crash are ongoing."
In Marlborough, police were called to the intersection of Chaytors and Neal roads at Spring Creek, 6km north of Blenheim, about 12.15am. They were told a vehicle had rolled.
"The sole occupant of the car received critical injuries and was transported to hospital. The Serious Crash Unit has carried out a scene examination and inquiries into the crash are ongoing."
And just before 6am, police were told a vehicle had struck a herd of bobby calves on State Highway 25, near the intersection of Kapowai Rd, just outside Coromandel Peninsula settlement of Coroglen, police said.
Bobby calves are calves younger than 30 days old, and not with their mothers.
"Eight calves were killed and one was injured. The highway was shut while the scene was cleared, however, it reopened by 8am."
