A man who crashed his car at the scene of a fatal stabbing in NSW's Hunter region emerged from the vehicle with multiple wounds, police say.

A 48-year-old man was stabbed to death at Cessnock in the Hunter region in the early hours of Sunday morning.

However, while police were examining the area, a car driving past crashed into the crime scene.

A 50-year-old man emerged from the crash with multiple wounds.

Police said the two incidents were linked and the crash victim, who was taken to John Hunter Hospital, was helping with inquiries.

ABC/AAP