The crash happened on the A595 at Bolton Low Houses on Wednesday afternoon. The two vehicles were travelling in opposite directions, according to witnesses.
The 45-year-old van driver was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The local News & Star newspaper named the van driver as Simon Fisher, from the Cockermouth area.
Although the van was totally written off, the driver's 14-year-old son, who was in the front passenger seat of the van, escaped injury. The crane driver was also unhurt.
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