One man has died following a serious crash that occurred on State Highway 6 on the Lake Hawea-Albert Town Road, about 12km from Wanaka, at around 6.25am this morning.
While a serious crash investigation is underway, initial indications are that the driver of a blue Subaru car travelling towards Wanaka suffered fatal injuries after being struck by an object that smashed through the windscreen of his car.
His female passenger was uninjured in the incident.
The road remains closed and detours are in place with a diversion via Camp Hill Road for traffic travelling towards Wanaka and via Domain Road for traffic travelling from Lake Hawea. Detours are expected to remain in place for the next few hours while serious crash investigators examine the crash scene.
As part of their investigation into the cause of the crash, Police are keen to hear from anyone who might have seen a white 4 x 4 ute heading out of Wanaka on the north side of the Maungawera Hill towards Hawea sometime around 6.15am to 6.45am this morning.
The ute may have been in the vicinity at the time the incident occurred and Police would like to talk with the driver.
People with any information can contact Wanaka Police on 03 443 7272 or their nearest Police station.
No further details about the man who died in the crash will be released until next of kin have been notified.
ENDS
Released by Detective Sergeant Brian Cameron, Otago Rural Police