He was Oamaru man Scott William Ridley (23), a communications and policy development officer with Waitaki District Council.
Emergency services were called just before 5am to the crash just north of the Baghdad Creek bridge in what Detective Sergeant Mike Ryder described as "atrocious conditions'' with thick fog making it very dark.
The collision occurred in the southbound lane. The car driven by Mr Ridley heading north collided with a bulk flour truck and trailer which was travelling south.
The truck veered off the road and into the deep creek bed on the east side of the bridge, hitting the opposite bank and catching fire. The driver, a Christchurch man in his 60s, died in the cab. He has yet to be named
The badly damaged car ended up on the west side of the road and Mr Ridley was cut free and taken by ambulance to Palmerston because of the fog where it met the rescue helicopter.
He was taken to Dunedin Hospital, where he later died.
With no detour available, SH 1 was closed for about four hours before it was open to a single lane only.
The Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit is investigating the crash.
Emergency services and police came from as far away as Oamaru and Waikouaiti to attend the crash.
