Fears occupant is missing after car goes into water near Sumner, Christchurch

Emergency services are on the way there. Photo / Greg Bowker

Police fear a person remains missing after a car left the road and plunged into the sea near Sumner, Christchurch early on Saturday evening.

Inspector Hirone Waretini confirmed the driver of the car which went off Main Rd, Clifton, was recovered and is now receiving treatment in hospital.

It's believed one other person was in the vehicle, and searchers have so far failed to locate either the submerged vehicle or the person.

A witness at the scene said the car appeared to have taken the corner too quickly and came off the road.

Two occupants, a male and a female, were inside the vehicle and lifeguards from the Sumner surf life saving club, police officers and members of the public got into the water to help the trapped pair, the witness said.

"It was pretty intense."
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Rescuers were able to get one person out, but tragically the other person was believed to be trapped in the submerged vehicle.

The witness told the Herald the section of the beach where the car entered the water had a notorious undercurrent and other people at the scene said they saw the car being swept out to sea before it went out of sight.

The search has been called off for this evening, and the Police Dive Squad has been notified and is set to arrive tomorrow to resume the search.

Traffic is being diverted while the Serious Crash Unit concludes its scene examination.

Police asked motorists to avoid the area where possible.

A local resident earlier told Newstalk ZB there was a full emergency response, with ambulance and police presence at the scene, and a chopper in the air and lifeboat out on the water.