A St John spokesman
said initially one person in a critical condition and one person with minor injuries were transported to Timaru Hospital.
The person who had been critically injured had since died.
The road was closed between Hedley Rd and Lynch Rd, and diversions were in place.
The detour route for Northbound traffic is to turn right onto Seadown Rd, left on to Dominion Rd and right onto SH1. Reverse for southbound traffic.
Heavy trucks travelling northbound should turn left onto SH8, right on to Levels Plain Rd, right onto Arowhenua Rd then onto SH1.
