Update: 8.30pm:
Both drivers injured in this afternoon's collision remain at Bendigo Health in a stable condition.
It is unclear whether they will need to spend the night.
Update, 5.59pm:
PARAMEDICS have confirmed two people taken to hospital after a head-on, two-car crash near Heathcote sustained minor injuries.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said both patients were taken to Bendigo Health by road ambulance in a stable condition.
Police said the crash involved a 19-year-old man, who was driving a white twin-cab ute, and a 71-year-old woman, who was driving a black Subaru SUV.
Tuesday, 5.40pm
Police said the crash was a head-on collision involving a white twin-cab ute heading towards Bendigo and a black Subaru SUV travelling towards Heathcote.
Both drivers were injured, with a 19-year-old male in the ute and a 71-year-old woman in the Subaru, taken by road ambulance to hospital for observation. They were the only occupants in the cars.
"Both parties have minor injuries. They are very lucky because you can see the significant impact on both vehicles. They were both doing about 100km/h," Leading Senior Constable Laurie Mueck, of Axedale police, said.
He said the safety features on the cars probably saved their lives.
"Twenty or 30 years ago this would have easily been a fatal collision, that's how far vehicle safety has come," Leading Senior Constable Mueck said.
Investigations are ongoing, with police working to establish what happened.
The McIvor Highway has now re-opened.
Earlier: Emergency services are responding to a road incident near Heathcote.
The McIvor Highway is closed in both directions at Derrinal.
Firefighters are among those responding.
The incident occurred just after 4pm.
More to come.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
