16 Nov 2018

Christchurch crash leaves one dead, others injured

2:02 pm on 16 November 2018

One person is dead and two others have been injured after a four-wheel-drive and a motorbike collided in Christchurch.

A four wheel drive lying on its side after it collided with a motorbike at the intersection of Colombo Street and Sandyford Street in Christchurch.

A vehicle lying on its side after the collision at the intersection of Colombo Street and Sandyford Street in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd

The crash took place at the intersection of Colombo Street and Sandyford Street in Sydenham at about 11.10am.

Police Senior Sergeant Simon Sinclair said a passenger in the four wheel drive died away at the scene.

St John ambulance took two others to hospital. One was in a serious condition and one was in a critical condition.

Mr Sinclair said an investigator was at the scene and would be working throughout the afternoon to determine what caused the crash.

"We've got a lot of witnesses to speak to as well just to get a good account of what's happened," he said.

The flat-deck four wheel drive was lying on its side at the scene of the accident.

Traffic was being diverted around Sandyford Street.

Police are expecting the street to remain closed for "some hours".

A man working at a nearby store, who didn't want to be named, said he heard a lot of commotion, and looked outside to see "three or so" people lying on the ground.

"It's not a busy street. This is the first time something like this has happened," he said.

The crash brings the New Zealand road toll to 326 fatal crashes, this year to date.