A man has died in a two-car crash near Lake Taupo

A man has been critically injured in a two-car crash near Lake Taupo. Photo/Michael Craig

An elderly man has died in a two-car crash near Lake Taupo.

The cars collided at the bridge on State Highway 1, north of Turangi, at 6.25am on Monday.

The deceased man, aged in his 70s, was driving one of the cars, while the other driver was not injured, police say.

SH1 remains partially closed while serious crash investigators work at the scene.

Traffic is being directed past the crash using stop-go signs, so motorists heading north and south should expect delays, police said.

The fatal crash brings the number of people who have died on the roads this year to 229.

By August 5 last year, 228 people had died on the roads, while 198 had died by the same time in 2016.