Five people are in hospital, two with critical injuries, after a truck drove off the road in Melbourne’s inner south, collided with a group of pedestrians, and then fled the scene.

Witnesses told investigators that a truck drove off the road near the intersection of City Road and Power Street in Southbank at around 7pm before hitting a traffic light and the group of pedestrians on the footpath.

The truck, possibly a tanker, then left the scene, Detectives from Major Collision Investigation Unit said.

The group of five pedestrians – believed to be four men and a woman all aged in their twenties – have been taken to hospital, two of the men with critical injuries.

The other three people were all in serious but stable conditions.

Police say there is no threat to the community.

Investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or with dashcam footage to come forward and are seeking assistance to identify the driver.