Driver on the run after man killed in NSW head-on collision

The driver of a ute involved in a head-on collision that killed one man is on the run in central western NSW.

The crash happened on the Mitchell Highway, east of Lucknow, shortly after 9pm last night, police say.

Officers found the driver of a van involved in the smash dead at the scene.

However, they say the man behind the wheel of the other vehicle, a utility which flipped onto its roof, left before they arrived.

A search of the area has failed to find him.

The Mitchell Highway was expected to be closed in both directions for a number of hours.