Serious crash near Clarence

A car and a bus have been involved in a serious crash on State Highway 1.

Emergency services are responding to the crash near Clarence, Kaikoura District.

Three people were in the car at the time of the crash, a police spokesperson says. There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the collision.

One person is out of the vehicle and emergency services are working to get the other two out of the car.

A St John spokeswoman says two helicopters, one ambulance and one manager responded to the scene where St John is treating three patients.

"Currently, one patient is in a serious condition, one in a moderate condition and one in a minor condition," she says.

The crash was reported to Police around 1pm this afternoon.

The road is expected to be closed for some time and motorists are advised to delay travel or use an alternative route.