One dead in bus-4WD crash north of Timaru

File photo / Martin Sykes

One person is dead after a head-on collision between a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a bus on State Highway 1 at Orari, about 40km north of Timaru.

Emergency services are at the scene and a police spokesman said the sole occupant of the 4WD vehicle died.

Police say there were 19 people on the bus and three have been taken to hospital with moderate injuries.

Three ambulances are currently at the crash scene.

- NZPA, NZ Herald staff