Two dead after truck and car collide
Two people have died after a car and truck collided head-on near Rolleston, southwest of Christchurch.
The crash happened at the intersection of Main South Rd (State Highway 1) and Walkers Rd at 10.15am yesterday.
Inspector Peter Cooper said it appeared the small car had crossed the centre line and crashed head-on into the truck.
Two people in the car, both Selwyn locals, died at the scene.
Police were investigating why the car crossed the road, Cooper said.
‘‘This part of SH1 between [Rolleston] and Ashburton is a high-volume area and there are a lot of crashes on this road.
‘‘It’s an area we have a lot of concern and do police heavily to make sure people are safe. We’re really asking the public to think about their journeys,’’ he said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Darryl Ball said two fire crews from Burnham and Rolleston tried to rescue one person who was trapped in a vehicle.
The truck driver was taken to Christchurch Hospital with moderate injuries.
Last month, tourist Jan Michel Veneman, 45, from the Netherlands died after his car was shunted into the path of a oncoming truck on the corner of Main South Rd and Foremans Rd on November 5.
Metro area commander Superintendent Lane Todd earlier said it appeared Veneman was waiting at an intersection to turn onto Foremans Rd, when a van crashed into it from behind.