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Police say charges are likely to be laid against the driver of a four-wheel-drive vehicle that crashed into a power pole near Leeston early on Sunday, killing a woman passenger.
A 24-year-old Englishwoman, who held a New Zealand work visa and had been working at a local factory, died instantly in the crash on the outskirts of Leeston, 43km southwest of Christchurch, about 6.30am on Sunday.
Police have withheld her name at her family's request.
Constable Rob Stuart, of Leeston police, told NZPA five people in the vehicle were returning to Leeston from a night out in Christchurch.
The dead woman was a front-seat passenger. Her half-sister received moderate injuries.
"It appears the driver has lost control of the vehicle and hit a concrete lamp-post, which killed the passenger instantly," he said.
The vehicle's front left side took the full force of the impact.
Mr Stuart said police investigations into the crash were continuing, but the 26-year-old male driver was likely to face charges.
The woman's death was one of three on New Zealand roads at the weekend.
- NZPA
