Traffic is moving on State Highway 1 near Herbert following a lengthy closure caused by a fatal crash this morning.
The driver of a southbound Landrover was killed when his vehicle collided with a northbound Hilton Haulage truck, Inspector Lindsay Turner of police southern communications said.
Police, firefighters and ambulance staff were called to the scene about 4.20am. The man, the sole occupant of the Landrover, was dead when they arrived.
The truck driver was a 43-year-old Timaru man.
Hilton Haulage director Peter McAuley said the incident was "a truckie's worst nightmare''.
"The truck driver was on his regular scheduled run, from Timaru [to] Dunedin return. On his return journey, he's had a head on collision with a car.
"It's just a horrendous thing for anyone to have happen to them.''
The man had suffered a minor injury to his hand as a result of the crash, Mr McAuley said.
"Staff here, everyone here is just wrapping ourselves around him, looking after him. He's in pretty good shape.''
The truck, which was carrying a load of general goods, had been substantially damaged, he said.
The driver had little recollection of the incident after the airbag inflated, he said.
Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy said initial indications were that the Landrover had crossed the centre line.
Both lanes were closed for a lengthy period but one lane is now open and police say they are hopeful of having both lanes open again soon.
An Otago Daily Times newspaper delivery truck, bound for Oamaru, Timaru and Ashburton, was among the vehicles caught in traffic, delaying delivery of newspapers to those areas.
Otago Daily Times distribution manager Kevin McGregor said today's edition of the newspaper would be delivered as soon as the vehicle could get through.
