Farmer dies in Marlborough crash

A high-country farmer is dead after his vehicle failed to take a sharp right-hand bend and plunged down a cliff in Marlborough on Wednesday, police say.

Graham Black and his wife Beverley Black were found in their upturned vehicle near Cow Creek in the Awatere Valley, the Marlborough Express reported.

Mr Black died at the scene while Mrs Black was taken to Blenheim's Wairau Hospital where she was reported to be in a stable condition.

A family member found the car about 80 metres down the cliff, shortly before a helicopter arrived, Marlborough highway patrol leader Sergeant Barrie Greenall said.

Emergency workers used cutting gear to free the couple.

- NZPA