Police can now confirm the identity of the person found in a partially-submerged vehicle in the Kawarau River on Wednesday, following a crash that was discovered on Tuesday evening.

He was 59-year-old John Robert Howard, of Queenstown.

Further inquiries are underway as to the circumstances of what happened.

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Police have recovered a body following a crash on State Highway 6 near Victoria Flats Bridge in the Kawarau Gorge.

The crash occurred yesterday and the Police National Dive Squad was called in to search for the occupant of the vehicle today. They located the body in the partially submerged vehicle this afternoon.

"We are yet to formally identify the body and have a number of further inquiries to carry out," said Otago Lakes Central Area Commander Olaf Jensen.

The vehicle has been retrieved from the Kawarau River. 

The Coroner has been notified.

Earlier:

The Police National Dive Squad has been deployed to help assist in the search for the occupants of a vehicle that crashed off State Highway 6 near Victoria Flats Bridge, in the Kawarau Gorge.

Motorists found crash debris on the side of State Highway 6 near Victoria Flats Bridge at about 6:40pm last night.

The crashed vehicle was found partially submerged in the Kawarau River.

Victoria Flats Bridge in the Kawarau Gorge

It was secured by wire rope last night to prevent it from moving and a scene guard was in place overnight.

Police returned to the scene this morning to look to recover the vehicle and an investigation is under way to determine who was in the vehicle. At this stage the occupants remain unaccounted for.

The Police National Dive Squad is due to arrive this afternoon.

The investigation into the crash continues.