Two people have died following a serious two-vehicle crash at the Oreti River Bridge on the Riverton Wallacetown Highway, near Argyle Corner this afternoon.

A man died at the scene and a woman was transported to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition. She died at the hospital a short time later.

They were 61-year-old woman Kareen Marie Malcolm, and 61-year-old man James Lennon Malcolm, both of Invercargill.

Police were called about 1.30pm.

The road remained closed all afternoon while the Serious Crash Unit attended the scene. It reopened about 8.30pm.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.