Woman killed in Dixons Creek crash

One woman has been killed and another seriously injured after an early morning crash in the state's north-east on Saturday.

A female driver and female passenger were driving along Melba Highway through Dixons Creek when their car veered off the road and collided with a steep embankment about 3.30am.

The passenger, who has not yet been identified, died on the scene and the driver has been taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious injuries.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Melbourne Hospital confirmed that she remains in a serious but stable condition.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

A section of the Melba Highway near Dixons Creek has been closed in both directions.

A spokeswoman for Victoria police said the road will be reopened when investigations have concluded.

Seventy-one people have died on Victorian roads in 2018, compared to 88 deaths on the road the same time last year.