Hopes fade for crash victim

Emma Campbell. Photo / Supplied

Police investigating the disappearance of a Christchurch woman who crashed her car in the Port Hills say they are probably looking for a body.

No trace has been found of Southland-raised carer Emma Campbell, 29, since her blue 1994 Toyota Corona veered off Dyers Pass Rd and down a bank on May 1.

Her red sneakers were found between the car and a walking track below, among beaten bracken.

A large police team has scoured the area above the suburb of Cashmere - by land and air - without success.

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant John Rae told the Herald an outside chance of survival remained, but it was most likely police were going to find a body. They had not ruled out foul play but had found nothing to suggest it.

Mr Rae said it was "disturbing" that Ms Campbell had gone further down into the bush, rather than coming back up to the road.

The owners of the Sign of the Kiwi tearooms - about 1500m from the crash site and initially used as a search base - say they have grave fears for Ms Campbell's safety. Over 26 years, John and Lindsey Sigglekow have found 12 bodies.

The couple told the Herald that in the first few days of the present search, a relative of Ms Campbell said she had "done this before" and would turn up.

Mr Sigglekow said a person who crashed by accident typically came back up to the road.

Mr Rae said Ms Campbell "suffered from anxiety a bit" but the condition affected people differently and did not necessarily have any bearing on her disappearance.

He said police were doing everything they could to identify where she might have gone.

Staff would cut away the scrub around the crash site in the next few days and continue trawling through CCTV footage, he said.

The serious crash unit was also reviewing the crash to try to get a better picture of what happened.