Tourists had just met before Pelorus Bridge crash

Photo / File

The two tourists killed in yesterday's horror crash in Marlborough had only just met and were sharing a ride, police said.

The driver and one rear passenger of the same vehicle, both men, died after their vehicle collided with a ute on the Pelorus bridge between Nelson and Blenheim yesterday.

One of the men was from Germany and the other was French.

A 25-year-old German woman, the front seat passenger and only survivor of the other car, has a broken collar bone and serious bruising.

She told police the trio had only met recently and were sharing a ride.

A 33-year-old Marlborough woman, the sole occupant of the ute, received a broken ankle which will require surgery.

Both women are in Blenheim's Wairau Hospital in a stable condition.

Senior Sergeant Peter Payne of Marlborough Police said it appeared one of the vehicles had crossed the centre line.

He said conditions at the time were atrocious, with torrential rain and low cloud.

Serious Crash investigators are on the scene today and police are working to contact next of kin.

The two men will not be named until their identities are confirmed and their families are contacted.

- nzherald.co.nz