A police spokeswoman said the man was initially in a critical condition following the crash which involved a Temuka Transport truck and trailer unit on State Highway 1, between Otokia and Henley, about 8.30am.
The truck ended up in a ditch beside the main trunk rail line and the late model Volkswagen SUV was left on its roof on the other side of the road. The impact left a large debris field over both lanes of the road.
The driver of the SUV was trapped and had to be freed, she said.
A St John spokeswoman said one ambulance and one rapid response unit responded to the crash.
Staff treated one patient, who was in a critical condition, and was transported to Dunedin Hospital.
A Southern District Health Board spokeswoman said the man was now recovering in a ward at the hospital.
The road was closed for much of the day so the Police Serious Crash Unit could investigate the incident.
Diversions were in place off the highway at Centre Rd and Henley Rd.
The road was closed for several hours, and fully reopened just before 5pm.
