The two people who died in a crash in rural Southland were employees of a Southland blueberry farm.
In a social media post, Blueberry Country Southland said “with sadness” two members of their local blueberry picking crew died while on their way to work yesterday.
The crash also left a third employee of theirs injured.
‘‘We are all devastated — they were [and] are valued members of our . . . crew.
‘‘On behalf of all our staff we send loving support to the injured and condolences to the whole family at this terrible time.’’
The two employees died in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Fairfax-Isla Bank Rd and Isla Bank-Flints Bush Rd, in Isla Bank, near Otautau, yesterday.
Emergency services were called to the scene at 8.40am.
A police spokesman said despite extensive efforts by emergency services, the two people died at the scene of the crash.
The road was closed for much of the day while a scene examination was carried out by the Serious Crash Unit.