Police have released the name of the man killed in a motor vehicle fatality at Mt Hutt yesterday morning [Wednesday 5 March].
He was Barry Thomas Whitcombe, aged 55, of Ashburton.
Mr Whitcombe was an experienced grader driver, employed as a contractor at Mt Hutt ski field.
Police say the cause of the incident is yet to be determined. Initial inquiries indicate that the utility vehicle the man was driving came off the skifield access road, and he was thrown from the vehicle.
Investigators will consider factors including weather conditions and the possibility of a medical event as potential contributing factors.
Weather conditions in the area at the time were poor, with strong wind and rain, and several inches of snow on the ground.
The Police Serious Crash Unit attended the scene and is continuing inquiries. A post mortem will be conducted today.
ENDS