A car that crashed through a Melbourne childcare centre and erupted into a ball of flames, killing the driver, may have had an accelerant inside.
The fatal crash happened only hours before children started arriving at the centre, with a nearby witness hearing screams as the flames took hold.
Victoria Police says officers turned on their flashing lights about 4am on Monday to intercept a car, before they saw a flash, smoke and flames inside the vehicle.
The maroon car, which wasn't stolen, then left the road and crashed through the centre and burst into flames.
The yet-to-be-identified driver got out of the car but only made it a short distance away before he died.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Deb Robertson said police put the siren and lights on for a routine stop moments before the car sped away, driving erratically before crashing, but police had not been searching for the vehicle.
"A male, we assume at this stage, has alighted from the car and moved away from the vehicle and our members have tried to extinguish the flames," Asst Cssr Robertson told reporters.
"It is thought by the CFA that there may have been some accelerant in the vehicle at the time for it to have been as intense as it was when it hit the building."
Thomas Incardona, who lives directly opposite the building, took a video of the flames shooting into the sky moments after the collision.
"I heard a crash and as soon as I came out I saw big flames," Mr Incardona told AAP on Monday.
"I heard screaming but I didn't see nobody (sic).
"I'm devastated. It was lucky it happened three hours before kids started arriving."
The centre's owner Ian Johnson said staff would normally arrive at 6.15am and children from 6.25am.
"There's no children involved and the families involved, that's the most important thing," Mr Johnson told Nine News.
"Two hours later, we would have maybe 20 or 30 people in the childcare centre at the time."
The building is still too hot for police to gain access to inspect the vehicle.
A silver tarpaulin is on the road outside covering what is believed to be the man's remains.
The pursuit and crash involving police will be investigated by Professional Standards Command.
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