Emergency services responded to reports of a two-car collision on the highway near Murrumbateman about 3.30pm yesterday.

The man and a 58-year-old woman, both from Holt in the ACT, were cut free from the wreckage of their vehicle before being taken to The Canberra Hospital for emergency treatment.

The man was airlifted by Snowy Hydro Southcare.

The woman remains in a serious but stable condition with internal injuries.

The man died in hospital during surgery overnight.

Meanwhile, the driver of the other car, a 27-year-old Murrumbateman man, was taken by ambulance to The Canberra Hospital for treatment of leg injuries.

Police from Goulburn Local Area Command are continuing their inquiries into the cause of the crash.

It also closed the Barton Highway to through traffic until about 8pm last night, diverting northbound cars via Nanima Road, and southbound traffic via Murrumbateman Road.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or circumstances leading up to it to come forward.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Yass Detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page:https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/.

Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Police remind people they should not report crime information via Facebook and Twitter.