BALLARAT police have again pleaded with drivers to be careful in precarious winter conditions after the second fatality in less than a week on the region's roads.
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A 20-year-old Sebastopol woman died and a 28-year-old Ballarat man was flown to Melbourne after a head-on smash near Creswick on Tuesday.
The incident follows the death of 21-year-old Horsham man Liam Scott on the Western Highway at Middle Creek on Friday.
Ballarat police believe in Tuesday's incident the woman lost control of her silver Holden Commodore on black ice on the Midland Highway about 200 metres past the Novotel Forest Resort before sliding into the path of an oncoming grey Ford dual cab ute about 8.15am.
The Ford driver, who was trapped in the vehicle for several minutes, was stabilised by road ambulance before an air ambulance landed on the highway, transporting him to The Alfred hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Sergeant Bob Anderson said the woman was travelling south from Creswick to Ballarat, while the man was heading north towards Creswick.
"A witness has noticed ice on the road and observed the Commodore lose control on the ice," Sergeant Anderson said.
"It has crossed over into the north-bound lane and been struck by another vehicle travelling north."
The two cars had to be pulled apart by a tow truck to determine if there were any passengers in the Commodore, which was partially positioned under the ute.
The woman's distraught family members arrived on the scene and were comforted by police, including Superintendent Andrew Allen.
North-bound traffic was diverted along Kennedy's Road as emergency services cleared the highway for the air ambulance's arrival.
Traffic was initially let through on the south-bound lane, but was diverted shortly before the helicopter landed.
Ambulances, including a MICA unit, Ballarat and Creswick fire brigades, and police from Creswick, Ballarat and Ballarat Highway Patrol were all on the scene.
The CFA's fire rescue truck was also called to the scene.
Glass and debris, including a P-plate, littered both lanes of the Midland Highway, with both vehicles positioned on the Creswick-bound lane leaning against the guard railing.
The Courier has chosen not to name the victim and police investigations are continuing.
fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.a