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A woman has died and five other people, including two young children, have been injured in a horror crash that blocked a major highway in central western New South Wales.
Emergency services were called to the scene at Aarons Pass, south of Mudgee, about 2pm on Friday after a southbound ute and a northbound SUV collided in the northbound lane.
Four people were in the van and two in the ute.
A 32-year-old woman, who was traveling in the front seat of the van, was seriously injured and taken to Mudgee Hospital for treatment.
Emergency services were called to Aarons Pass, south of Mudgee, about 2pm on Friday after the collision.
The 54-year-old driver of the ute was taken to Mudgee Hospital (pictured, Mudgee) with minor injuries and for mandatory testing.
He died a short time later, New South Wales Police confirmed in a statement.
The 34-year-old male driver of the van and the front seat passenger of the ute, a 68-year-old man, were airlifted to Westmead Hospital with serious injuries.
Two girls, aged two and six, who were traveling in the back seat of the van were taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital.
A New South Wales Police spokesman said both were in a stable condition.
The 54-year-old driver of the ute was taken to Mudgee Hospital with minor injuries and for mandatory testing.
A crime scene has been established and investigations are now underway into the circumstances leading up to the accident.