Police believe a small car that collided with a truck killing two people near Christchurch crossed the centre line.
Emergency Services were called at 10.10am on Wednesday to a car vs truck crash on State Highway One, south of Rolleston.
The truck driver has been taken to hospital with moderate injuries, police say.
Canterbury Rural area commander Inspector Peter Cooper told Newshub the deceased are locals from the Selwyn area.
Both occupants died at the scene.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash and are contacting the pair's next of kin.
"This part of State Highway One between here and Ashburton is a high volume area and there are a lot of crashes on this road. It's an area we have a lot of concern in and police heavily," Inspt Cooper says.
Police are urging motorists to concentrate when they are behind the wheel and drive to the conditions.
The highway is closed between Dunns Crossing Road and Burnham Road and divisions are in place.
Motorists are being asked to avoid the area.
Newshub.
