Seven Ashburton people have been injured – two critically – in a “horrific’’ crash involving a St John health shuttle on State Highway 1 just past Burnham.
A St John health shuttle from Ashburton travelling north collided with a ute heading south on SH1 between Burnham and Rolleston about 9.30am on Friday.
The ute apparently lost control of its trailer and hit the shuttle head on.  
St John area operations manager for Canterbury, Ian Rex, was one off the first paramedics on scene in a rapid response vehicle.
“We were dispatched to motor vehicle accident involving one our own health shuttles from Ashburton. Seven people on board (five patients and two St John staff) and a ute, with a single occupant,’’ Rex said.
“It was horrific when you see the extent of the crash (and) you know it’s people that you are familiar with.’’
Eight patients were transported to Christchurch Hospital.
Two occupants from the shuttle were in a critical condition, three serious and two in a moderate condition.
The driver of the ute had minor injuries.
One of the critical patients was transferred by the Westpac Rescue helicopter after being trapped in the shuttle for a period of time.
Defence force fire crews and medics were also on scene from the Burnham military base, along with six ambulances, four clinical managers, one rapid response vehicle and one helicopter.
“You train to deal with these things.
"You switch into a mode and put aside what you are looking at, and actually seeing, and you put on that management hat,’’ Rex continued.
“It is alleged that the ute was fish tailing and then it moved into the oncoming lane, hitting the shuttle, which then lost control onto the side of the road and then hit a tree.’’

• By Daniel Alvey