A suburban Melbourne main road has become the scene of a devastating tragedy after a car slammed into a pole late on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to Oaklands Ave on the Burwood Hwy in Ferntree Gully about 5.55pm, where they found the vehicle torn apart by the force of the impact.

Two passengers — who are yet to be formally identified — died at the scene despite desperate efforts to save them.

The male driver survived and was taken to hospital under police guard.

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Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are now piecing together what led to the deadly crash, with the circumstances still unclear.

Police are urging anyone who saw the incident, or who has dashcam or CCTV footage, to contact police or report anonymously at crimestoppersvic.com.au..