A German tourist has died and another has been seriously injured in a head-on collision on the Arnhem Highway, south-east of Darwin.

The crash happened at 9pm on Thursday about 20km east of Humpty Doo.

Police said the tourists’ car was most likely being driven on the wrong side of the road when it collided with an oncoming four-wheel-drive.

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The man killed was a passenger in the sedan. The driver is in Royal Darwin Hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the four-wheel-drive suffered minor injuries.

Police are diverting traffic around the scene as investigations continue.