State Highway 1 at the Rakaia River bridge south of Christchurch is closed for the rest of this evening and into the early hours of tomorrow morning, following a fatal crash.

The road was closed after a car and truck collided just before 3pm.

Police have confirmed the driver of the car has died.

The truck driver was uninjured.

The road has been blocked by the truck, which was left jack-knifed across the bridge. A crane has been called in to remove it.

A 60km detour is available through Methven and Darfield.

A second crash on Sharlands Road is also causing delays and traffic is moving extremely slowly.

One person was seriously injured in that crash and has been airlifted to Christchurch Hospital.

The Transport Agency said to keep an eye on its website for up-to-date information about when the road will reopen.