The 20-year-old Avondale Heights man has been charged with culpable driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop and failing to render assistance. He was expected to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon. The scene of a fatal crash. Credit:Nine News Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Clanchy said police were investigating if the driver ran a red light. He said drugs and alcohol were also lines of investigation.

"We certainly believe the driver would have known he struck someone," the officer said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "Everyone has a duty to stop when they're the driver of a motor vehicle and involved in a collision. And the reason for that is because if somebody's injured the earlier they get medical attention will increase their chances of a better outcome. "[Leaving the scene] is a very callous thing to do. People have various reasons why they do it. But the courts will look very seriously at a person leaving the scene and will deal out the appropriate penalties."

The latest death came days after an impassioned plea for decency from a cyclist seriously injured in a hit-run in Strathmore Heights, also in Melbourne's north-west. Essendon man Rob Alexander, 43, was thrown metres into the air in Mascoma Street while on his morning ride with six others on June 17. Colin Waters died in the alleged hit-run at Taylors Lakes Credit:Nine News The driver in that incident did not stop and remains on the run more than a month later. On Monday, police and Mr Alexander asked the driver to come forward and for anyone involved in future accidents to always stop and help.

"They might be challenged with their own things in life, and that's OK," Mr Alexander told reporters. "But think about others and think about their families. I'm fortunate to live in this situation, but others may not be." Tragically, his words have rung true only two days later. Loading It could have also been the case on July 19, when a teenager was knocked from his bike on Station Street in Mooroolbark. The 59-year-old Croydon driver of a white hatchback stopped at the scene before getting back in his car and leaving.

Police located the driver on Tuesday and released him pending further enquiries. The Melton Highway was closed on Wednesday morning for west bound traffic at Kings Road following the latest incident. The highway reopened shortly before 2.30pm. In a separate crash on Wednesday afternoon, another man died after losing control of his car and smashing into a tree in Tyabb on the Mornington Peninsula about 2.30pm. The driver, believed to be a man in his 70s, died at the scene on Frankston-Flinders Road. Paramedics were unable to save the driver, believed to be a man in his 70s, who died at the scene.