The bodies of a driver and passenger have been recovered from a Mid Canterbury hydroelectric canal after their vehicle left the road last night and plunged into the water.

Emergency services were alerted after the crash at 1am yesterday on Pudding Hill Rd just out of the Methven township.

The car went into the Rangitata Diversion Race.

Search and Rescue staff recovered the car from the water yesterday after the canal was drained to allow better access ot the scene.

The body of the passenger was located in the vehicle.

The driver was found today after the Police National Dive Squad arrived.

A formal identification process is underway to identify the deceased.

Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

The names of the victims are yet to be released.