Matt Vongsykeo, 14, heard the crash from his house and went to help, seeing a Holden Jackaroo propped against a small brick wall. 'I could hear a baby crying'

"As I got closer, there were two guys standing outside and they said there was a baby inside, and I could hear a baby crying.'' he told Southern Cross Radio. "They were too big to get in, so one of them actually lifted up the boot so that I could go inside and get the baby out of its baby chair. "I struggled holding the baby's head up with one hand, because its head was just hanging, and I unclipped the baby belt with the other hand and got it out as quick as I could.''

He then found the baby's mother in the driver's seat. 'I just freaked out'

"I wasn't sure if she was dead or unconscious at the time and I just freaked out, but then I went around to the other side of the car and started talking to her, and she started to make noise, so I knew she was all right,'' he said.

"I kept telling her that her kid was all right and kept asking her to talk to me so I knew that she would stay with me, and then the ambulance people came, and it was unfortunate that she's gone.'' Matt dismissed suggestions he was a hero. "I've lived 14 years, if something had happened to me ... I've lived 14 years. That baby hasn't and I wanted to give that baby a chance,'' he said.

Sergeant Carnie said the speeding Holden Commodore first sideswiped a Toyota Camry, shearing a wheel from the Toyota, then hit the woman's Jackaroo before crashing into a Honda Civic. 'A massive collision'

"It was a massive collision from our point of view. The damage to the vehicles was tremendous,'' Sgt Carnie told Southern Cross Radio. The Commodore driver, a man aged about 40, was thrown clear following the second collision and is in a critical condition at The Alfred hospital, he said. "The reasons why he was on the wrong side of the road are a bit of a mystery to us at this stage,'' he said.

"Hopefully at some time in the future we can get a chance to talk to him and find out.'' A woman in her early 20s suffered serious back and chest injuries and was also taken to The Alfred hospital.

Another woman was sent to the Monash Medical Centre with minor injuries. The baby was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital for observation. Police have appealed for witnesses.

Victoria's road toll now stands at 223, 25 fewer than at the same time last year. AAP