Hunt continues for suspected crash victim

Gnarly terrain is hampering search efforts for a woman whose crashed car was found on Christchurch's Port Hills.

The car was found over a bank near Dyers Pass Road early yesterday morning, and police have been searching the area for the car's 28-year-old owner, Emma Campbell.

"We haven't managed to locate any sign of her in the immediate area where the car was, and we've gone wider and further and still no luck," Canterbury search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Craig Prior told NZPA.

Ms Campbell was last seen at her flat on Friday night and the car was heard leaving the property about 5.30am yesterday, Mr Prior said.

There was a possibility Ms Campbell was not in the car, although her wallet was found in it. Her cellphone was found at her flat.

Searchers were continuing to scour the Port Hills area this afternoon, but the difficult terrain was causing some problems, Mr Prior said.

"There are some sharp drop-offs and a lot of undergrowth as well and a reasonably heavy forested area. It's what you'd call gnarly country," he said.

"We'll wait until the end of the day to reassess, but there's a possibility I might use a helicopter tonight with some thermal gear just to cover off that area."

Ms Campbell's family had been with police for most of the day.

- NZPA