Crashes close same stretch of Melbourne road twice in one day

Two separate crashes have caused chaos on the busy Western Ring Road in Melbourne during morning and evening peak hour today.

Outbound lanes remain closed at Tullamarine following a crash just before 6.30pm.

Two men, including one with serious chest injuries, have been taken to hospital in a serious condition.

A third man trapped in his car suffered abdominal injuries but is in a stable condition.

The crash follows another pile-up just before 8.30am, involving a collision between several cars and a truck on the Western Ring Road, inbound towards Altona near the Calder Freeway at Keilor East.

Police said a truck rear-ended a car, which was pushed into six other cars.

A woman in her 50s was trapped for around 45 minutes before being freed by paramedics and the Melbourne Fire Brigade.

She was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with neck, back and abdominal injuries. 

She also suffered a cut to her head and is in a stable condition. 

Three other people were taken to Sunshine Hospital with minor injuries.