Two men are dead after a cyclist, a car and a Downer truck-and-trailer unit crashed in north Christchurch.

Police have confirmed a 60-year-old cyclist and 47-year-old driver of a Toyota Corolla were killed in the crash.

Constable Jeremy Hopson said the truck-and-trailer unit driver was unharmed but extremely shaken by the crash.

Police believe the car crashed in to the truck-and-trailer unit causing it to hit the cyclist, but this was yet to be confirmed in a full investigation.

Scores of emergency services attended the crash scene, near the intersection of Empire Rd and Main North roads, near the old Waimakariri Bridge in Kainga.

The crash was about 3.35pm. Police have set up a cordon in the area.

A resident said he could see about 10 police cars at the scene.

"There are lights and sirens everywhere."

He said the vehicles were off to the side of the road and a group of people had gathered near the crash site.

"They [the vehicles] look like a heap of twisted metal."