One dead in West Coast tourist bus crash

A tourist bus has crashed over a bank in the Buller District, killing one person and seriously injuring another.

Inspector Michael Coulter of the police southern communications centre said the bus rolled over a bank on State Highway 6 at Charleston, 27km south-west of Westport, at about 3.50pm.

About 20 people were believed to have been aboard the bus at the time of the crash.

One person was dead and another was seriously injured. Other occupants of the bus were being transported to Westport.

SH6 has been closed at Charleston to the north of the incident and at Punakaiki to the south while emergency services attend the scene.

- NZPA