Methven, Canterbury canal car crash: Body found, police search for missing driver

Emergency services received a report about a car that went into the canal off Pudding Hill Rd shortly after 1am yesterday.

Police are searching for the driver of a car from which a body has been pulled after it crashed into a hydroelectric canal in Canterbury early this morning.

The body of one person has been recovered by police from a car that crashed into the Rangitata Diversion Race near Methven early this morning.

Emergency services received a report of a car that went into the canal off Pudding Hill Road shortly after 1am.

Search and Rescue staff recovered the car from the water earlier today.

The body of the passenger was located in the vehicle, police said in a statement

The driver has not been located.

The Police National Dive Squad has been deployed to continue the search for the driver today.

A formal identification process is underway to identify the deceased.

Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.