Police have released the names of the two people who were killed in a motor vehicle crash at Bankside, south of Dunsandel, on Monday [25 November].
Gaurav Bhabhera, aged 28, an Indian national, was the driver of a car travelling south on SH1, which is believed to have veered across the centre line into the path of a north-bound vehicle.
Marae Judy Dean, aged 52, of Ashburton, was the driver of the north-bound vehicle.
Both drivers were pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash.
Mr Bhabhera's wife, Jaina Bhabhera, remains in a critical condition in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit.
The female passenger from the north-bound vehicle, a member of the driver's extended family, is in a comfortable condition in a general ward.
Sergeant Chris Jones of Rolleston Police says the Indian couple were visiting New Zealand on holiday.
Investigations into the crash are continuing, he says. Police have been interviewing witnesses to the crash and examination of the vehicles is expected to be completed by the end of this week.
Sergeant Jones says Police are not speculating on the cause of the crash at this stage, but investigations are looking at possible contributing factors including unfamiliarity with conditions and driver distraction.
ENDS