A passenger in a car that crashed into a power pole in North Canterbury last night is believed to have been electrocuted by a live power line.
Emergency services were alerted to the crash on O'Hallorans Road in Glentui where a car collided with a power pole at approximately 6.00pm last night.
Two cars are reported to have been travelling along the gravel road, when one car with four occupants left the road at low speed and collided with a power pole.
The power pole was broken and live power lines rested on the vehicle.
Police said one of the rear seat passengers got out of the crashed car and was subsequently electrocuted and later confirmed as dead at the scene.
Two occupants of the other car are understood to have gone to assist and also got electrical shocks.
They were both taken to Christchurch Hospital for treatment along with the three other occupants of the crashed car.
The death has been referred to the coroner.
No details of the dead passenger will be released until next of kin are informed and police investigations into the crash are continuing.
The crash also caused a small scrub fire which was extinguished by Fire Service.
