During the evening of Friday, January 16, a 75-year-old man was reported missing to police after his family members were unable to locate or contact him.

Police from the New England Local Area Command were alerted and conducted extensive inquiries to locate him.

About 7.30pm yesterday on Thursday, police were called to the Oxley Highway adjacent to the MacDonald River at Woolbrook, about 25km west of Walcha, following reports of a car crash.

On arrival officers found a man, believed to be the 75-year-old, deceased in his car.

Forensic procedures are currently underway to formally identify the man.

It is believed he was driving his car and it has left the roadway, driven through a fence and crashed into a tree in a paddock.

A crime scene was established by police and examined by forensic officers.