A YOUNG woman received serious head injuries when her car crossed the Lincoln Causeway median strip and smashed into a south-bound car.

The crash caused traffic gridlock for at least two hours.

A witness, Greg Dimaggio, said the crash had unfolded in front of him, north of the rail bridge.

The woman, 20, was driving towards Albury near the Gateway Village shortly after 1pm when her Toyota Camry veered from the right lane into the left.

“She bounced off the guard rail before skidding across the median strip to the other side of the road where she hit another car,” Mr Dimaggio said.

“She also knocked a light post out of the ground.”

Mr Dimaggio, who was riding a motorcycle, said the crash happened so fast he didn’t see the driver brake.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the driver had been flown to Royal Melbourne hospital with serious head injuries.

Two people in the other car were taken to Albury hospital with minor injuries.

A Wodonga nurse, who was driving past the crash scene, pulled over to offer assistance when she saw the debris

Sarah, who did not wish to be named, said it was her natural instinct to help.

For more than an hour, Sarah helped to monitor the young woman’s blood pressure and pulse.

SES and CFA staff and Wodonga police secured the crash site and worked to cut the woman from the wreck.

Debris from both vehicles was scattered along the median strip and south-bound lanes of the causeway.

Sarah said she had been shocked at the damage the impact of the crash had caused — it was the first crash she had attended.

“It definitely reinforces why you’re a nurse,” she said.

“We’re there to help people but it was a team effort.”

All four lanes of the causeway were closed while the scene was cleared and police completed their investigations.

They are yet to disclose the cause of the collision.