Four teenagers have been taken to hospital, two of them in a critical condition, after a car they were travelling in collided with a truck in Somerton in Melbourne's outer north.

The accident occurred at the Somerton Road and Dennis Street intersection about 3:35am.

Emergency crews said the four teenage boys had to be cut from the car.

Detective Sergeant David Newman said police believed the silver Volkswagen failed to stop at a red light and was travelling at excessive speed.

"The scene was quite hectic, you can imagine the impact between a 23-tonne truck and a car travelling at speed, it did take a lot of work to get them out of there," he said.

"[It's] very, very fortunate there were survivors."

Mr Newman said an independent witness put the car's speed between 120 and 150 kilometres per hour in an 80kph zone, but police would investigate that claim further.

The 17-year-old driver from Melbourne's north was on his learner's permit.

Two of the teens were taken to The Alfred Hospital, and two were taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The truck driver was not hurt in the crash.

Mr Newman said the car was not stolen and belonged to the family of one of the teens.