Truck crash derails Melbourne tram in park, injuring almost 30 people

Emergency services at the scene of a truck-tram accident in Melbourne. Photo / AAP

A truck crash that's injured almost 30 people and derailed a Melbourne tram in a park could impact traffic throughout the evening peak.

Fourteen people including the tram driver have been taken to hospital today after the tram carrying about 46 people collided with a truck as it crossed Elliott Avenue in Parkville.

One person broke an arm while the others were treated for sprains, strains and cuts, emergency services say.

With the truck on its side and the both carriages of the B-class tram off its rails, the intersection is not expected to be cleared until this evening.

Katrina Walker was riding near the front of the tram and says pedestrians were also crossing Elliott Ave in the same direction as the tram at the time of the crash.

"I was looking out the window 'cos someone had a cute dog with them," she told AAP.

"It's wild (sic) no one was more seriously injured."

Police have collected dozens of witness statements but are yet to decide which driver was at fault or whether the traffic lights malfunctioned.

"Somebody has gone through a red light but whether it was the tram or the truck, we don't know," Senior Sergeant Stephen Wilson told reporters.

Firefighters are on scene cleaning up diesel leaking from the truck.

Rail Tram and Bus Union national secretary Phil Altieri says the tram union is very concerned about the crash area, where the tram line through Royal Park intersects with the Elliott Avenue.

"There was a very, very bad tram and truck (collision) a couple of years ago and our member was very badly injured and is still not driving," he told 3AW.

"It is a bit of a hotspot ... it shouldn't be a problem but it is."

- AAP