Nine people were taken to hospital following a serious crash south of Oamaru on Sunday night.
Two vehicles collided in the accident at Maheno just after 6pm. Six were in one vehicle, three in the other.
All nine were taken to hospital - one with critical injuries, two serious, two moderate and the rest minor.
Three helicopters and several emergency crews attended the scene, which disrupted traffic.
The road toll this year stands at 359, already 53 higher than in 2016 with two weeks to go.
Eighteen people have lost their lives on the roads in December so far - only 10 died in the entire month last year.
Newshub.
