Two killed on South Island roads

Two people have been killed in separate road crashes in the South Island this morning.

A 21-year-old local man was killed at South Elgin, 6km southeast of Ashburton, about 1.40am when he collided with a power pole. He died at the scene.

Police are still at the scene of a crash where a 54-year-old man was killed after he left the road and collided with a bank.

The accident happened about 2.40am on State Highway 85 at Stoneburn, 23km northwest of Palmerston in Otago.

SH85 has since reopened, southern police communications said.

In both accidents the drivers were the sole occupants.

- NZPA