A man has drowned after the vehicle he was driving crashed into the Turnbull River near Haast.
The crash happened about 7.30 pm yesterday when two male whitebaiters were driving along a 4x4 track after visiting their friends on another whitebait stand.
The vehicle suddenly left the track, crashed over a steep bank and into the Turnbull River.
The passenger managed to escape through his window before the Toyota Rav 4 sank. The driver did not get out.
The car washed 100 metres downstream where it got caught in a deep hole.
Police, Haast search and rescue volunteers and district nurse attended.
The vehicle was recovered from the river about 9pm and the deceased driver was still in it.
He was Ian Charles HARROX, 68 yrs of Wanaka. His 75 year old passenger escaped unharmed.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated.
end