A tragic collision has resulted in the death of an innocent driver and the operator of a speeding stolen car in a head-on crash near Melbourne’s north-west.

Highway police were informed of the tragic accident shortly after the speeding vehicle zoomed past them just prior to the fatal crash.

Highway Patrol officers had just stopped an unrelated vehicle when they noticed one of the cars speeding down a rural road in Toolern Vale around 10 am.

The stolen car, traveling at high speed, continued along Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road until it collided head-on with another car heading in the opposite direction.

The collision’s impact caused the vehicles to be thrown several meters apart.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger travelling in the speeding car was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Locals said there were often people travelling along the stretch of road well beyond the speed limit.

“It’s a collision scene that spreads well over 100 metres,” Detective Inspector Craig McEvey said.

“It’s carnage, to be honest, it’s horrific.”

The Major Collision Investigation Unit was expected to remain on scene for some time.

The drivers were yet to be formally identified.