SA man dies after truck hits tree

A man has died after his truck hit a tree in South Australia's southeast.

A small truck crashed into a tree on the Riddoch Highway near Padthaway just before 2am on Wednesday, police say.

The 44-year-old man from Naracoorte, near the SA-Victoria border, died at the scene and a 59-year-old female passenger was hospitalised with non-life threatening injuries.

The state's road toll is 65, compared to 62 this time last year.