Three young people were killed when a car they were in collided with a bus north of Christchurch on Saturday morning.
Inspector Al Stewart says the three, who were in the car, most probably died on impact; two others from the car are critically ill.
They may have been helped to survive, he says, by the fact that among those first on the scene were paramedics who happened to be travelling on the same road.
Inspector Stewart says it's too soon to determine why the car crossed the centre line of State Highway 1 a kilometre south of Woodend at about 11.30.
Witnesses have told police that the car, which was travelling south, veered onto the wrong side of the road and hit the bus.
The bus was part of the Northern Star public transport system between Woodend, Rangiora and Kaiapoi. Its driver and three passengers are shocked but unharmed.
Six people were taken to hospital, one with very serious injuries and the others with serious, moderate and minor injuries. Police have been contacting the families of the young people involved.
Radio New Zealand
