Three killed in car crashes in Victoria

Three people have been killed in less than two hours following separate car crashes on Victorian roads.

About 5.30pm (AEDT) on Friday, a hatchback and a sedan collided on the Melba Highway in Castella.

The hatchback female driver died at the scene while the other driver suffered serious injuries.

She is expected to be airlifted to a Melbourne hospital.

Almost two hours earlier two people died in a car crash at Baranduda, near Wodonga.

Police say a car crashed into a tree on Baranduda Boulevard about 3.50pm.

Two passengers died at the scene and the driver was airlifted to hospital.

Detectives from the major collision investigation unit are en route to the scene.

The deaths take the state road toll to 24 for 2014, ten more than the same time last year.

Friday's deaths come after five men died on Victorian roads in just 24 hours on the Australia Day weekend.