Last night emergency services spent several hours searching the area around the crash site for the utility driver who left the area shortly after the collision.

Police returned to the site on Wednesday morning but were unable to locate the man.

Canobolas Local Area Command duty officer Dave Harvey said police know the identity of the man and were now door knocking a number of addresses in Orange in an effort to track him down.

"Police need to speak to the man as a matter of urgency," Inspector Harvey said.

Early investigations indicate that the van and utility collided head on while driving in opposite directions on the Mitchell Highway, flipping the utility onto its roof.

Earlier: POLICE are investigating following a fatal collision near Orange on Tuesday night.

About 9.10pm emergency services responded to reports of a collision between two vehicles on the Mitchell Highway, about 2km east of Lucknow.

On arrival officers from Canobolas Local Area Command found the male driver of a van had died.

Police have been told the driver of a utility, a man, left the area shortly after the collision.

Early investigations indicate that the van and utility have collided head on while driving in opposite directions on the Mitchell Highway, flipping the utility onto its roof.

A crime scene has been established and will be examined by Metropolitan Crash Investigators.

The Mitchell Highway was closed in both directions for several hours, before reopening at 7.30am on Wednesday. 

Police are appealing for anyone that witnessed the incident or has information that may assist investigators to contact Orange Police Station on 02 6363 6399 or Crime Stoppers.

Police conducted a search of the area for the driver of the utility, however were unable to locate him.

He was described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 30s, wearing maroon tracksuit pants and a grey jumper.