The Tekapo Twizel Highway is blocked following two bus crashes.

A police spokesperson said the separate, single-bus crashes happened about 100m apart on State Highway 8, around 8:40am.

“There are multiple injuries, the extent of which is still being confirmed,” they said.

A St John spokesperson said multiple units are responding to the scene.

The road is closed between Tekapo and the intersection with State Highway 80.

A motorist who was one of the first on the scene told chrislynchmedia.com, “On first bus everyone was okay fire and emergency said. Cop on second bus didn’t wanna say much but said it’s not as bad as it could be when I asked if everyone was okay.”

“First bus, kids in the fire emergency car wrapped in blankets. They must’ve been so scared. Looks like tourists,” the motorist said.

Earlier today, chrislynchmedia.com reported that another motorist was urging drivers to exercise extreme caution while travelling through Lake Tekapo.

He reported encountering black ice on the road, which created hazardous driving conditions.

The motorist, who was driving south, said the ice took him by surprise and has since notified emergency services.

At 8am, the temperature in the Lake Tekapo area was a frigid -3°C.

More soon.