28 Feb 2012

Soldiers injured during training exercise

2:08 pm on 28 February 2012

Four soldiers have been injured in a training accident on the South Island's West Coast, the New Zealand Defence Force says.

Two army Pinzgauer light operational vehicles collided during an exercise in the Buller Ranges, 15km from Charleston.

The vehicles collided on a blind corner of a dirt track leading into the ranges at about 6.20pm on Monday.

Four soldiers were taker to Buller Hospital for treatment.

Two received suspected broken bones - one to a forearm and one to a cheekbone - and were being transferred to Grey Base Hospital in Greymouth on Tuesday.

Two others received minor injuries and have been discharged.

The soldiers are from the Burnham Camp, outside Christchurch, but the Defence Force would not confirm their regiment.

The Defence Force says it is too early to say what caused the accident.