Warning issued as seven hurt in crashes on icy roads in Victoria

Seven people have reportedly been hurt in car crashes on snowy Victorian roads, sparking warnings for drivers as Australia braces for its coldest week of 2015.

Five people were injured about 8am when a car slipped down an embankment on the Great Alpine Road, near Cobungra in Victoria's East Gippsland region, the Herald Sun has reported.

READ MORE: Australia’s southeast braces for coldest week of 2015

They were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Not long after, two more people suffered spinal injuries when their car plunged down a separate embankment on the same road.

They were trapped in their car for 40 minutes before being freed and taken to hospital.

Sergeant David Armistead warned people to take extra care while driving in snowy areas.

"They should be careful given the condition because the roads are likely to be icy and slippery," he said.

The warning is likely to remain relevant for the next week across vast swathes of Australia's southeast, with a series of cold fronts and low pressure systems set to bring the coldest days of 2015 so far.