Police recovered the bodies of three people this afternoon who were unaccounted for following a crash in Marlborough overnight.

The crash, at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Bush Road in Tuamarina, was reported to police at 1.45am.

Two people managed to escape from the car after it crashed into the Tuamarina River, but three people remained unaccounted for.

A police spokesperson said the Police National Dive Squad was deployed and located the car, submerged in the river, around 12pm today.

Tragically, all three remaining occupants were found deceased inside the car.

Support is being provided to the families of the deceased and the two survivors, who suffered moderate injuries in the crash.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are under way, and the road has now reopened.