Van driver dies in crash on NSW motorway

The driver of a van has died and his passenger is in a critical condition after a collision with a truck on the M1 Pacific Motorway on the NSW Central Coast.

Initial investigations suggest the two vehicles were travelling north when they crashed about 10.20am on Tuesday at Sombersby, about one kilometre from the Kariong turn off.

The male driver died at the scene, while NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the van's male passenger for a head injury before he was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.

The truck driver was not injured. The motorway is closed northbound.