A five-year-old Wahgunyah boy and his grandmother required hospital treatment after their van was struck by a 27-year-old Rutherglen motorist.

The incident occurred on Victoria Street, Wahgunyah, near Foord Street, about 5.30pm.

Leading Sen-Constable Aaron Hardinge said the Rutherglen driver had just avoided a gas bottle on the car he struck.

“He only just missed it,” he said.

“It he had hit the gas bottle it would have been quite a different story.”

Both cars were written off and had to be towed from the scene.

“We’re still looking into the incident,” he said.

“The 27-year-old was interviewed at the scene and released pending further inquiries.

“It was dry, so to have a vehicle lose control around a bend, speed was quite obviously a factor.”

He said there were differing reports of what occurred in the incident.

The Rutherglen driver returned a negative alcohol reading.