A 19-year-old Alexandra man is dead after a car carrying him and two other men crashed into a tree last night.

Emergency services attended the crash which happened overnight on Coates Rd, near the airport in Alexandra.

Police said two passengers were initially trapped and the third, a 19-year-old from Alexandra, escaped with minor injuries and raised the alarm.

A 19-year-old Ranfurly man who was trapped, had critical injuries and was flown by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital and is in the ICU, police said.

The other man died at the scene, police said.

"This was a single vehicle crash, with the car leaving the road and colliding with a tree," police said.

Both police and Victim Support were working with families involved, police said.

"It is hoped that the name of the deceased will be released later today."

The Serious Crash Unit was investigating the crash.

Police are seeking information about, or any witnesses who may have seen, a grey sedan travelling on Chicago Street, or between Alexandra and the airport between 11.30pm and midnight last night.

Anyone with any information are asked to contact Alexandra Police on (03) 4402500 extn 34400.