Two dead, one hurt in separate South Island crashes

A car crashed on State Highway 77 near Ashburton and a truck crashed in Lyttelton. Image / Google Maps

Two people have died and another was seriously injured after two crashes in the South Island.

The driver of a small truck has died after it crashed into two parked cars on College Rd, Lyttelton around 10.25am this morning.

Police say the driver of the small blue truck died after hitting two parked cars on the steep street above the busy port.

The truck collided heavily with a silver 4WD which has been shunted into the hillside.

Police serious crash investigators are at the scene and traffic is limited to residents only.

The other crash was near Ashburton, south of Christchurch. It occurred on State Highway 77, also known as the Methven Highway, about 1.30am.

The car crashed into a fence and was located off the road, police said in a media statement.

One person died at the scene and the other was taken to Ashburton Hospital in a serious condition.

Diversions were in place while the Serious Crash Unit investigated.