A third person is confirmed to have died after a serious crash north of Christchurch, in what its mayor called a “traumatic” experience for the community.

Emergency services were called to the crash on Main North Rd in Sefton around 6.50pm on Sunday evening.

Police said in a statement that two people had died as a result of the crash, while a third person had sustained serious injuries.

The Herald understands the third person has since died.

Main North Rd was forced to close last night due to the crash but since reopened. Inquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.

Sefton, roughly 35km north of Christchurch, is a small community. Two more people were killed on a nearby road when a car and school bus collided on Friday.

Emergency services at the scene of a serious crash on Main North Rd, north of Christchurch. Photo / George Heard

Several patients were being treated for their injuries after the crash happened shortly after 3.30pm at the intersection of Harleston and Broad Rds.

Canterbury rural area commander Inspector Peter Cooper said the crashes were “horrendous”.

“There’s five families in Canterbury that have lost loved ones that will be suffering but there’s also the impact it has on the attending staff having to go to these crashes, it certainly impacts them.

“It’s a real feeling of sadness, people are losing their lives and families are having to deal with such tragedies far too often.”

The district’s mayor, Dan Gordon, told NZME the crashes were “very sad news” that no community nor family would want to hear.

“They’re traumatic incidents, there’s been a loss of life and there will be an inquiry but my thoughts are with the family and those who lost loved ones,” he said.

“It’s something distressing for any family and community.”

The Sefton community was described by Gordon as “caring”, he expects they will rally with support for any involved.

“Our emergency services are locals in the community so it’s obviously traumatic for them to turn out to incidents like this where there’s loss of life.”