He was Ian Maxwell Imrie, 45 years of age.

Mudgee Police were alerted to the accident on Cope Road, about 10 kilometres north east of Gulgong at 2.25am.

Mudgee Police Crime Manager Inspector David Payne said police were unsure of the time of the accident, which was discovered by railway workers.

“From initial investigations it appears the vehicle has left the roadway and rolled several times before crashing into a large tree,” Inspector Payne said.

“There is no indication at this time that any other vehicle was involved in the accident.”

Inspector Payne said the vehicle was travelling from Gulgong towards Ulan.

Mr Imrie was the only occupant of the vehicle.

The fatality was the first in the Mudgee Local Area Command for 2010 and the second in the past month following the death of a 19-year-old woman on Lue Road between Rylstone and Lue late last year.

There 17 road fatalities in the Mudgee Local Area command in 2009.

“At this time I urge motorists to drive within the speed limits and to the road conditions and road rules,” Inspector Payne said.

“Last year was a horror year throughout the command and to have a fatality so early in the New Year is disappointing to say the least.”