Teen dead, man critical in Tas crash

A driver is critically injured and his teenager passenger is dead after their car ran off the road and struck a power pole in northern Tasmania.

An 18-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene near Birralee, northwest of Launceston, in the early hours of Saturday.

The 27-year-old driver was taken to hospital in a stable condition, suffering life threatening head injuries.

Police say the man lost control on a bend and crossed to the wrong side of the road before hitting the pole.

They're investigating whether alcohol was a factor.