A 31-year-old Italian tourist died after his van collided with an oncoming stock truck as he travelled on the wrong side of the road in North Otago yesterday, police say.
The accident happened shortly after midday on State Highway 1 at the Katiki overbridge, about 15km north of Palmerston, Senior Constable Darrin Lowe of Hampden police said.
The truck driver was uninjured.
Mr Lowe said there was no apparent reason for the van to have been on the wrong side of the road and police were still investigating.
Police have yet to contact the man's next of kin.
