Man badly hurt in Melbourne CBD hit

A driver is on the run after hitting a pedestrian in Melbourne's CBD in an allegedly stolen car.

Police say the Toyota Camry hit three cars and a man on A'Beckett Street, shortly after police tried to intercept it on Flinders Street at about 5pm on Tuesday.

The driver of the car and a passenger, both of whom were men, abandoned the vehicle on A'Beckett Street and fled on foot.

The struck man, aged in his 20s or 30s, was taken to the Alfred Hospital with serious injuries.

Police do not believe the incident is terror related but have urged people to avoid the area.

Witness Troy Naismith said he watched from his balcony as a car hit at least one other vehicle and a traffic light within about 20 seconds on A'Beckett street, before its driver fled.

"He ping-ponged into this car here, into the traffic light, knocked the traffic light over, and then hopped out the car and ran off up the road," he told reporters at the scene.

Police had believed another crash on Market Street was connected to the A'Beckett incident, but have since determined it was totally separate.

In that crash, two pedestrians were assessed by paramedics after a car hit a traffic pole, and did not wish to be taken to hospital.