Residents of Rankins Springs, in the northern Riverina, were alerted to the single-vehicle crash involving a van on the Mid Western Highway just east of the town on Saturday morning.

The van driver, a 51-year-old woman, was not injured and ran about one kilometre to raise the alarm with staff at the town's general store.

Emergency services were subsequently called and arrived at the crash scene about 8.20am.

According to police, the crash occurred when a Ford Transit van travelling east on the highway crossed to the other side of the road and crashed into a tree.

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The 11-year-old passenger was freed from the vehicle and had CPR administered, but tragically she died at the scene.

On Sunday afternoon, the driver of the van was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, and negligent driving occasioning death following police inquiries.

Her license has been suspended and she will appear in Griffith Local Court on Wednesday, November 17 .

Tom Groat, the vice captain of the Rankins Springs bush fire brigade, was the first NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer on the scene.

Mr Groat said the alarm was raised after the driver of the vehicle ran around one kilometre into town following the incident and notified staff at the Rankins Springs General Store of the crash.

"She alerted the owner of the [Rankins Springs General Store]," Mr Groat said. "He was on the scene and then the police arrived."

The firefighter said everyone involved had been deeply impacted by the tragedy.

"Everyone in town is shaken," he said.

"With the RFS, we've come across scenes like this but no one that young for a long time. It was very sad."

A local resident, who preferred not to be named, said the town rallied to respond as quickly as possible.

"It was horrific, that's not something that happens everyday here," they said. "The whole town pulled together and went and did what they could."

Mr Groat said the response was a community effort.

"Everyone involved did the best they could under the circumstances, it was bloody tough," he said.

Police said the driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing. Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit investigated the crash.

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