One dead in Canterbury crash

Emergency services at the scene of the crash. Photo / Rosaleen Harley

A woman is dead and two other people are in hospital with critical injuries following a crash in Canterbury this afternoon.

The two-car crash happened on State Highway 1 just north of Ashburton, about 3pm, police said.

A woman, aged in her 40s, died at the scene.

Two other people were taken to Christchurch Hospital, one of whom was undergoing surgery.

Investigations were continuing into the cause of the crash.

The woman's death is the only one on New Zealand roads so far this weekend.

- NZPA