A Christchurch man critically injured in a head-on collision just out of Arthur's Pass village on Sunday morning, died in Christchurch Hospital last night, prompting renewed calls for the twisty section of State highway 73 around Mingha Bluff to be straightened.
The dead man, who has yet to be named but was aged in his 20s, was travelling towards the West Coast about 10am when his vehicle and another heading towards Christchurch collided.
The crash happened on the first part of the winding section of highway immediately east of the village.
Just a week ago it was announced that the New Zealand Land Transport Agency (LTSA) had deferred indefinitely the proposal to straighten that section of road, from the Mingha Bluff to Rough Creek.
Only last year the NZTA had draft plans to form a new road following the rail alignment, including holding public consultation meetings in Arthur's Pass.