Photo: Pretoria Gordon / RNZ
Two people have died in a crash in Clarkville, police said.
Police confirmed two people died in the crash, while a third is in hospital with minor injuries.
More than 100 North Canterbury households were also without power after the serious crash near Kaiapoi overnight.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said a car hit a power pole on Butchers Road, Clarkville, just after midnight, demolishing the pole and bringing down power lines across the road.
Firefighters from the Kaiapoi and Swannanoa brigades responded.
A St John spokesperson said two ambulances and a rapid response unit were sent to the single-vehicle crash at 12.09am.
One person was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a moderate condition, with the spokesperson referring enquiries about any other patients to the police.
Police would say only that Butchers Road was expected to remain closed between Moodys Road and Christmas Road for much of the day.
Lines company MainPower said power would remain off for 101 customers in the area, likely until this afternoon, while serious crash investigators remained on the scene.
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