Young woman in fatal Canterbury crash named

The young woman who died yesterday when her vehicle skidded out of control on black ice and hit a school bus has been named.

She was 28-year-old Charlotte Christina Armstrong from Little River.

Police said Ms Armstrong's death has now been referred to the coroner.

Ms Armstrong was driving her Toyota Surf towards Christchurch on State Highway 75 Christchurch-Akaroa Rd shortly after 7.30am when she lost control crossing McQueens Bridge at Gebbies Valley.

Sergeant Paul Piper said early indications were that she had encountered "a large patch of black ice and has spun into the path of a school bus travelling in the opposite direction".

The male driver and sole occupant of the school bus was trapped for about an hour before being extricated by firefighters.

He was taken to Christchurch Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter with moderate injuries, and have since been discharged.

Today, police said they were working with Ms Armstrong's family, and victim support had been offered to them.

"Charlotte's family have lost someone very special to them in tragic circumstances," Mr Piper said.

Mr Piper said black ice was a hazard on many Canterbury roads yesterday.

He said the police investigation into the cause of the crash would include assessing the effect of a large patch of black ice that was in the area where Ms Armstrong crashed.

Canterbury police have also released the names of those involved in a fatal crash near West Melton yesterday afternoon.

They were 88-year-old Patrick Eugene Joseph Barry and his wife 81-year-old Betty Dora Barry from Christchurch.

Their deaths have been referred to the coroner.

Mr Piper said the couple were travelling north along Sandy Knolls Rd toward a stop-controlled intersection with Halkett Rd when the accident occurred just after 2.30pm.

"Their car has collided with a Toyota Hilux towing an empty horse float travelling west along Halkett Road."

Investigations into the cause of the crash were continuing.