MELBOURNE’S tram operator has launched its own investigation and will audit all tram stop central pedestrian barriers after a policeman was seriously injured in a crash this morning.

The 33-year-old first constable, who has been with the force for more than three years, suffered a severe injury to the left side of his head when a pedestrian barrier pierced his divisional van outside Federation Square about 2.15am.

He underwent surgery at The Alfred hospital and is now in a stable condition.

A 30-year-old constable who was a passenger in the car escaped with minor injuries and was released from hospital earlier today.

Commander Dean Stevenson said the first constable’s young family were “shocked and devastated”.

“He has got very serious head and facial injuries that require considerable intervention to repair,” Commander Stevenson said.

Yarra Trams spokesman Simon Murphy said the barrier outside Federation Square, which speared through the car severely injuring an officer, was one of nine such barriers around Melbourne to stop commuters running across the tracks between platforms.

The state of the steel barrier, installed in 2007, would be examined as part of investigation which would also probe whether reflective material and other safety mitigators were in place.

“We treat safety as the primary concern for motorists and pedestrians and the whole community and we treat these kind of incidents extremely seriously,” he said.

“These barriers have been in place for up to 10 years and these kind of incidents are extremely rare.

“No-one can recall an incident like this in the past.

“They were built to all construction standards - trams have been operating safely, emergency vehicles have passed through there on numerous occasions in the past.”

Mr Murphy was not aware of any concerns from police during or since installation of the barrier and said emergency services were consulted on such works.

The audit of all nine barriers was expected to be completed today and no problems had yet been found.

“Yarra Trams’ primary concern is for the welfare of the police officers involved. Our thoughts are with them as they go through their recovery from the injuries sustained this morning,” Mr Murphy said.

The operator’s investigation was due to be completed by mid next month and would be handed to Transport Safety Victoria.

The Melbourne East station divisional van was travelling north with lights activated along St Kilda Rd, responding to a call from paramedics dealing with a difficult patient in East Melbourne about 2.15am, when the accident occurred.

The vehicle, traveling along tram tracks, struck a rail at the Federation Square tram stop which came along the bonnet and through the driver’s window and hit the driver before piercing the rear of the car.

“The member has suffered very serious injuries,” Commander Stevenson said.

It was unclear why the car was travelling on the tram tracks but police often did so when traffic was an issue.

Police are reviewing CCTV of the incident and said a witness reported the car traveling at speed but within the 40km/h limit.

“The investigation is very early and what we know is at this stage the indications are that they were traveling at the speed limit,” Commander Stevenson said.

“It is a very close call.”

The Major Collision Investigation Unit would prepare a report on the incident with oversight from professional standards.

“It’s not unusual for emergency service vehicles of any kind to travel on the tram tracks throughout Melbourne, particularly on that stretch of road.

“It is often because their progress is being restricted by other vehicles.

“At the moment we haven’t had a chance to really examine the CCTV footage and see what was there that would have caused that to happen.

“There is nothing to indicate at this stage there was any loss of control at all.

“There is nothing to indicate that he was doing anything other than traveling at the speed limit to a job.

“We don’t know the circumstances well enough to know how this happened.

“As far as we know it’s not an issue with the vehicle.

“At this stage it’s far early for us to speculate at all as to what may have caused it. I can’t even answer why they were on the tram tracks not that it’s unusual that emergency vehicles are on the tram tracks.

“I don’t know what led to the decision to use that part of the tram tracks.”

It’s understood the barriers, which stop commuters from running across the tracks between stops, had been installed for only a “little while”.

“Attending any emergency situation is concerning for us and there are always hazards.

“My understanding is there are a couple of other stops around the CBD so we will be inquiring into that and obviously putting out some warnings to our people and to other emergency services.”

The less seriously injured officer, who raised the alarm, was struggling with what happened.

“He was in significant shock of course with what had occurred.”

Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.