(file image) Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Two people are dead after a serious crash involving a school bus and a car in Waimakariri this afternoon.
St John said the crash was reported near Sefton, at the intersection of Broad and Harleston roads, shortly after 3.30pm.
Police said the two occupants of the car died at the scene. There were no reports of serious injuries to anyone on the school bus.
Rangiora High School principal Bruce Kearney said six of their students were onboard the bus, and of them was in hospital for a precautionary check up.
The others were okay and had gone home, Kearney said.
"We have already contacted every single one of those students and the other 10 students that were normally on the bus and we have offered them support, acknowledged what's happened, and come Monday, when we come back to school, we will have a plan in place to support those young people as they journey through this traumatic incident."
The road was closed while emergency services responded.
Motorists were asked to delay travel or to take an alternate route.