A 31-year-old male is facing charges as a result of a serious motor vehicle accident on Cardrona Valley Road last week (Wednesday September 3).

He will appear in court in early October, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said.

“This was a dynamic and complex vehicle collision which required a significant response,” Fi said.

One person remains in a critical condition following the accident.

Fi thanked those first on the scene who assisted in the critical initial moments following the crash; the farmer who opened up his property to ensure vehicles caught up in the roadblock could continue on their journey; and the people who responded to a police request for assistance from witnesses. 

“We had a great response which assisted in our investigation,” she said.

Despite the accident, however, there has been a steady stream of driving related complaints. 

“The general theme is vehicles driving dangerously heading up to Cardona Ski [Area], rental vehicles crossing the centre line, vehicles impeding the flow of traffic and dangerous overtaking manoeuvres. 

“Please drive to the conditions. Expect us to follow up with driving complaints.”

Backcountry avalanche, Mt Brewster rescue

Early on Saturday afternoon (September 6) four skiers were caught in an avalanche at Treble Cone, Fi said, all of whom were accounted for. 

“This was a relatively large avalanche sweeping the party into a gully where they were able to self-rescue. The alarm was raised, and an avalanche response commenced,” she said.

She thanked the “well drilled team” at Treble Cone, and reminded people venturing into the mountains to stay within the ski field boundaries, and if not at a ski field to check the Wanaka | New Zealand Avalanche Advisory.

“Wānaka has a significant snow loading at present making the high alpine areas dangerous. I would encourage people to research the conditions,” Fi said.

On Monday (September 8) the Wānaka LandSAR Alpine Cliff Rescue Team responded to a serious situation unfolding on Mt Brewster. 

The team was deployed to extract a party of two who had left their gear at the hut and continued on where they struck difficult conditions and became lost. 

“The party were inadequately prepared and were borderline hypothermic. This could have had fatal consequences,” Fi said.

“Police and LandSAR have raised [concerns about] the Brewster Track on many occasions; it is a serious alpine environment and will catch you out if you are ill prepared.”

In other incidents, police were called to a landslide near Boundary Creek on Saturday (September 6) where a large rock slip blocked the southbound lane. 

Police received several shoplifting complaints from retailers, and on Saturday (September 6) a 23-year-old male was stopped on the Lake Hāwea-Albert Town Road and underwent EBA procedures, with a result of 468.

Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.

Call 105 or use 105 Police Non-Emergency | New Zealand Police to make a non-emergency report. 

To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.

PHOTO: Supplied