A man has been flown to Waikato Hospital with a serious head injury, after his car hit a power pole at Lichfield this morning.

The 19 year-old from Tokoroa was cut out of his car at the side of State Highway One by firefighters and ambulance crews.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to the crash, involving just the single car at 4am.

Police, fire and ambulance staff worked at the scene to secure the downed wires and free the driver.

Traffic was diverted while the road was blocked.

The driver was stabilised by St John Paramedics before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital.