A passenger is dead and a driver critically injured in a head-on crash on a major highway.

A Holden Epica and a Hyundai Kona were driving opposite directions when they crashed on the Flinders Hwy southwest of Townsville about 4pm on Wednesday.

Paramedics found a passenger from the Kona with life-threatening injuries when they arrived at the crash site near Macrossan Bridge at Breddan, Charters Towers.

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The woman, aged in her 50s, could not be saved and was declared dead a short time later.

The Epica driver, a woman in her 40s, was treated for significant injuries and was rushed to Townsville Hospital in a critical condition.

A man in his 50s, driving the Kona, was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam vision is urged to contact police.

There have been 92 deaths on Queensland Roads so far this year.

Investigations are ongoing.