‘Perfect trifecta’: Local tells of dangerous conditions before fatal Otago crash
Wednesday, 22 July 2026
One person has died in a two-car crash in Central Otago on Wednesday morning after the area was affected by a “perfect trifecta” of dangerous conditions.
Police say they were called to a two-car crash on Springvale Rd near Letts Gully Rd around 9am and found one person dead at the scene.
A spokesperson for Fire and Emergency New Zealand said they sent two trucks and one support vehicle and there was a report of at least one person trapped in a vehicle.
Hato Hone St John sent two ambulances and transported one person with moderate injuries to Dunstan Hospital.
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Another person with moderate injuries was treated at the scene.
Doug McKenzie from K9 B&B Boarding Kennels on Letts Gully Rd told Stuff he had heard sirens nearby after 9am.
He said there had been a small amount of rain in the area at around 4am and believed the road were likely affected by black ice.
Another local told Stuff that black ice, sunstrike, and low misty fog created extremely hazardous conditions on the roads around Alexandra and Clyde.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said the fog was not the normal inversion layer but a thick mist that combined with other conditions to badly affect visibility, on top of the black ice.
“The sun strike was so bad this morning that I had to put my hand up to block it out, as well as my visor down.
“It was the perfect trifecta for an accident happening.”
She said the death would “rock the community”.
“It’s a very, very small community… everybody knows each other, everyone looks out for each other, and there will be many, many people that will know the person,” she said.
Police in Otago earlier issued a warning on social media about black ice in “a number of places across the district”.
“Please take extreme care driving in these conditions,” they said.
“Slow down, watch your following distance, and pay attention to the roads.”
Springvale Rd is closed and diversions are in place while the Serious Crash Unit completes an investigation.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays.