A man died after being crushed by a car he was working on in Marchwiel in Timaru just after 10.30pm on Monday.
He was Kenneth Arthur Wood, 65.
Police said he was making some repairs to his car, when the vehicle slipped from what he used to jack it up, and crushed him.
Inspector Dave Gaskin said Mr Wood called out to his flatmate to help him, but his friend was unable to lift the vehicle.
He said Mr Wood died by the time emergency services arrived.