A woman is dead after her vehicle crashed through a barrier on a bridge over the Oreti River last night (28 July).

Police confirmed the single-vehicle crash happened on Ferry Rd, west of Invercargill.

Police divers located the body of a female, who was the driver, in the submerged car at around 5pm today.

The death has been referred to the Coroner.

The crash was reported to emergency services at about 11.30pm.

Ferry Road has been closed between Staunton Road and Waimatuku Bush Road since around that time, and diversions remain in place.