Boy in intensive care after bus crash

A 9-year-old boy is in intensive care in Dunedin hospital after a tourist bus slid on black ice and rolled on the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway yesterday.

The Worldway bus was carrying 30 Chinese people, 22 of whom were injured and taken to Southland and Dunedin Hospitals.

Winton Police Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley said the boy is in a stable condition with serious abdominal injuries.

His mother, who is with him at the hospital, is receiving victim support.

All the other injured passengers injured in the crash were taken to Invercargill Hospital.

A 54 year-old man remains in the critical care unit and is being treated for rib fractures and bruising on his lungs.

A 62 year-old woman is being treated for a fractured wrist. The remaining passengers were treated for minor to moderate injuries and discharged.

Ms Fairley said the road conditions at the time were treacherous and police are waiting for a expert report to be released before determining the cause.

It is too early to say whether charges will be laid.

The bus was travelling at 40km/h to 50km/h behind another bus near Mossburn when it slid and spun 180 degrees before coming off the road backwards, rolling on to its side and hitting a power pole.

The New Zealand Transport Authority attributed a "light shower of rain" about 8am to the rapid deterioration of road conditions in the area.

Southland area manager Peter Robinson said the roads were inspected at 6am and 7am and no obvious ice issues were evident on the section where the crash happened.

Southern Lakes Helicopter pilot Mark Deaker, who attended the crash, said the roads were like a skating rink.

Photo: NZ Herald