Fatal motor vehicle accident

At about 4.40pm Police attended a three vehicle fatal motor vehicle crash on State Highway 1, RAKAIA bridge.

One person was deceased at the scene. Two drivers received medial treatment resulting in hospitalisation at both ASHBURTON and CHRISTCHURCH Hospitals for injuries sustained (not considered to be life threatening).

Two of the three vehicles were travelling southbound on the RAKAIA bridge and one (a truck and trailer unit carrying two tractors) travelling northbound. It is not clear at this stage exactly how the crash occurred but both southbound vehicles were significantly damaged and the truck has left the carriageway coming to rest on the river bank some 3 metres below.

Police investigations are on going as are next of kin enquiries and as yet Police are unable to release the name of the deceased person as they continue to contact next of kin.

Police Serious Crash Unit, Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit and Photography Section have attended the scene to assist with enquiries.

The southbound lane of the RAKAIA bridge remains closed whilst engineers work on the bridge and should re-open early this morning. Traffic is still able to utilise the RAKAIA bridge. There will be a partial closure at around 10.30am to allow final investigations to take place, however this will be for a very short period of time and should not effect traffic significantly