Police said a semi-trailer with eight new cars on board overturned on a slight bend in the road between Gordon and Ballan.

The crash happened about 2.30am.

The truck driver escaped with only minor injuries.

The new Holden Commodore sedans and wagons were dislodged from the truck in the rollover.

The wrecked cars were left scattered across the median strip of the highway.

It is understood the smashed cars were taken to Melbourne to be scrapped.

Police, paramedics and fire crews attended the crash scene.

Police media spokeswoman Leading Senior Constable Wendy Willingham said heavy haulage equipment was used to move the truck and cars yesterday morning.

But the removal of the damaged vehicles did not begin until daylight.

The two east-bound lanes of the highway were briefly closed to all traffic until the removal of the wreckage was completed about 9am, Sen Const Willingham said.

The truck is understood to have been travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne.

Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman Gabrielle Degenhardt said the truck driver was taken to Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital with a gash to the head.

A police investigation into the cause of the accident was still being carried out late yesterday.

In a bad day for crashes, a woman, 62, was taken to Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital with minor injuries after an accident in Wendouree.

The crash happened at the corner of Learmonth Rd and Gillies St.