The horror start to the year on Victorian roads continued this afternoon after a man has died and two people are critical following a head-on crash in Cranbourne North today.

Investigators believe a Ford Falcon stationwagon and Mitsubishi Magna sedan collided on the South Gippsland Highway about 12.15pm.

The front passenger of the Ford Falcon, a 69-year-old man, died at the scene.

The 65-year-old male driver of the same vehicle has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. The driver of the Magna, an 82-year-old man, has been flown to hospital, also in a critical condition.

The female passenger of the Magna has been transported by road in a serious condition.

The cause of the incident is currently being investigated and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Last night, the Craigieburn woman, 39, died when the Holden Commodore she was driving collided with a Holden Captiva on the Midland Highway in Stewarton, near Benalla, shortly after 10:30pm.

The 66-year-old Benalla man behind the wheel of the Captiva has been flown to hospital in Melbourne in a critical condition.

It continues a horror start to the year on the state’s roads

Eight people have died within 10 days.

Six of those fatal crashes have happened on country roads.

2018 ROAD TOLL: 8

SAME TIME 2017: 3

The 2017 road toll, 257 deaths, was the first year-on-year decrease since 2013.