Police are hoping a post mortem examination will explain why a motorist lost control of his car and crashed near Lyttelton this morning.
Police were called to Marine Drive in Charteris Bay, on the southern shores of Lyttelton Harbour, about 10am.
The man, a 54-year-old local and the sole occupant of the car, crossed the centre line on a moderate left hand bend and crashed into the bank on the other side of the road, said Detective Michael Ford of Lyttelton police.
At this stage police did not believe alcohol was involved but it was possibly a medical condition, which would be determined by the post mortem, he said.
