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Police investigating a bizarre fatal car crash in Mid Canterbury hope to examine the vehicle involved in Christchurch next week.
The body of 22-year-old Ashburton woman Melissa Brown was found in a field hundreds of metres from the crash site near the Rakaia Bridge on State Highway 1 on Wednesday night.
It is believed Ms Brown's body may have been swept down an irrigation canal after the crash between 9.35pm and 10pm.
She was understood to have been the front-seat passenger in a black Toyota Tercel that left the road, crashed through a sign and landed in the irrigation canal.
Police were alerted to the crash by a passing truck driver and found Ms Brown's body after the Westpac rescue helicopter was called to the scene.
Police have questioned a 35-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, both from Ashburton, who were in the car with Ms Brown. One of the pair was treated at Ashburton Hospital for minor injuries and discharged.
Police were unsure who was driving the car and have called for witnesses who may have seen it driving north toward Christchurch near the Rakaia Bridge between 9.30pm and 10pm on Wednesday.
A post mortem examination was done last night, but police declined to reveal the cause of Ms Brown's death and today were saying little about their investigation.
A police spokeswoman told NZPA the crashed car would be examined in Christchurch next week.
Police were also waiting for a report from the serious crash unit.
No charges have yet been laid.
Ms Brown worked for the McDonald's fast food chain and hoped to become a midwife.
- NZPA
