A man died and three people were injured when two vehicles collided on the New England Highway, north of Singleton, last night.

It was shortly before 8.30pm (Sunday 20 March 2016), that emergency services were called to the scene about 2km north of Rixs Creek.

Police from Hunter Valley Local Area Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, NSW Ambulance Paramedics and several rescue units arrived to find a Ford Focus hatchback and a Mitsubishi Triton utility had collided head-on.

The driver of the ute, a 38-year-old man, from Scone, sustained critical injuries and died on arrival at Singleton Hospital.

A 37-year-old woman and 12-year-old girl, also travelling in the ute, were taken to John Hunter Hospital, while the driver of the hatchback, a 21-year-old man from Singleton Heights, was taken to Singleton Hospital with minor injuries.

The New England Highway was closed for more than two hours while the vehicles were removed and

Crash Investigators examined the scene. They will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.