Cattle on road leads to fatal crash in Vic

Police believe a woman was herding cattle when she was struck and killed in a multi-car crash in northern Victoria.

A car hit the woman and then collided with two other cars on Echuca Road in Mooroopna about 5am on Monday, Victoria Police say.

Police aren't yet sure exactly what happened but believe the woman had turned on her hazard lights and got out of her car to try to herd cattle off the road.

Three cars then came from the opposite direction and the collision occurred.

The woman, aged in her 50s, died at the scene. Seven cattle were also killed.

The three male drivers of the other vehicles - aged 40, 42 and 65 - were all taken to hospital.

One of the drivers was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital with spinal injuries while the other two were taken to a Shepparton hospital, an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said.

Victoria's road toll now stands at 226 which is 28 higher than at the same time in 2015.