Two people were fighting for life on Friday following a serious collision on the Hume Freeway at Wangaratta South.

A Mazda 3 and Ford sedan were both travelling south on the freeway about 9am, one kilometre north of the Snow Road turnoff, when the two vehicles collided.

The occupants of the Mazda, aged in their 30s, both suffered critical injuries when their car crashed into trees on the left of the freeway.

Two air ambulance helicopters landed on the freeway so paramedics to stabalise the patients.

The woman was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital while the man was flown by to the Alfred Hospital – he was undergoing surgery late on Friday.

The female single occupant of the Ford, a P-plate driver, was treated for for shock and a sore neck, and was taken to Wangaratta Hospital in a stable condition.

It is believed she was overtaking the other car at the time of the crash, having been concerned about the Mazda’s driving in front of her.

The impact sent her car across the median strip and the northbound lanes, but she luckily missed oncoming traffic and came to a stop on the grass.

The Major Collision Investigation Unit arrived in Wangaratta to investigate and the road remained closed until the evening.

Wangaratta Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Patrick Murray said police were still looking into the cause of the crash, but had ruled out fatigue and road conditions.

“One got lucky, another went into a tree,” he said.

“It’s just a timely reminder that you’ve always got to remain vigilant no matter where you are, whether it’s a nice duel-lane highway or a back road … We just want people to get to their destinations safe and sound.”

Update: 11.40am

Both air ambulances have departed the crash scene and are transporting the patients to Melbourne.

A man and woman aged in their 30s both have head injuries and are in a critical condition.

The woman will be flown by air ambulance helicopter to Royal Melbourne Hospital while the man will be flown by air ambulance helicopter to The Alfred hospital.

Another woman has been taken to Wangaratta Hospital in a stable condition. 

Earlier:

Wangaratta Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Patrick Murray said two cars were both travelling south when they collided just before 9am.

One of the cars then veered off the road into a tree, seriously injuring the two occupants – a man and woman in the 30s.

The woman will be flown by air ambulance helicopter to Royal Melbourne Hospital while the man will be flown by air ambulance helicopter to the Alfred Hospital, both in critical conditions.

The female single occupant of the other car was treated for for shock and taken to Wangaratta Hospital in a stable condition.

“We’ve closed the southbound lanes, there are two with significant, life-threatening injuries,” Acting Sergeant Murray said.

More to come.