One person dead in crash near Wa¯naka Airport

A person has died in a single-vehicle crash near Wa¯naka Airport in Otago. The Wa¯nakaLuggate Highway (State Highway 6) was closed after a van crashed near the intersection with Mt Baker Rd about 4.20am yesterday. One person was killed, the only one in the vehicle, a police spokesman said. Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman Lyn Crosson said two crews from Wa¯naka and Luggate attended and reported the van had crashed ‘‘well off the road’’. She said it appeared to be a serious accident. Traffic diversions were put in place and the police serious crash unit was investigating.