A teenage boy has died and three other people are in hospital after two cars collided and were then hit by a truck in central west NSW on Friday evening.

The 15-year-old was a passenger in a Toyota utility which crashed with a BMW on the Mitchell Highway at Orange.

He got out of the car and rendered assistance to the occupants of the BMW, but both cars were then struck by a prime mover truck.

The boy died at the scene.

Acting Inspector Josh Dixon told reporters the initial collision was “very minor”.

“The (boy) was trying to do the right thing, absolutely,” he said.

“It’s absolutely tragic that this is the result.”

The 17-year-old Toyota driver and the man and woman in the BMW, aged 72 and 71, were taken to Orange Hospital. Their condition is stable and their injuries are not life-threatening.

The 48-year-old truck driver has been taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

Police are investigating the incident.