Suspected driver arrested after stolen car strikes cyclist in fatal hit and run in Melbourne

A MAN has been arrested in Melbourne’s CBD this evening after a “despicable” hit-run crash which killed a cyclist in South Yarra.

Man arrested over hit-and-run.

A MAN has been arrested in Melbourne’s CBD after a hit-run crash which killed a cyclist in South Yarra.

The man, 26, was held in Bourke St at 5.30pm (AEST), the Herald Sun reported.

He was arrested after being spotted from images released by police, the newspaper said.

Police released an image of the man believed responsible for the “despicable” hit and run in Melbourne that killed a Dutch cyclist on Sunday.

Victoria Police said the driver of a white Mercedes Benz crashed into the 27-year-old woman and pinned her between his car and a parked car on Chapel St at South Yarra about 10am.

The vehicle had been stolen from Elsternwick, 9km southeast of the Melbourne CBD, on August 5.

After striking the cyclist and hitting two parked cars, the driver — a man aged in his late 20s or early 30s — got out of the luxury vehicle, grabbed his belongings from the back seat and ran from the scene.

Bystanders tried desperately to revive the woman but she died in the middle of the road at the busy shopping precinct. Her body was covered by a blue plastic sheet and traffic was stopped in both directions.

“We’ve lost the life of a young girl who was just going about a Sunday morning bicycle ride,” Inspector Stuart McGregor said.

“Unfortunately for her, the driver of the white Mercedes decided he was going to cut through on the left hand side of the other vehicles and at the same time he’s collided with her and pushed her up against another car.”

Police at the scene of the collision on Chapel St. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run on Chapel St in South Yarra, Melbourne. Picture: 9 News

Insp McGregor described the driver as “despicable”.

“His first thought was to run,” he said. “It wasn’t to help, it wasn’t to stop, it wasn’t to think about the poor person he’s hit.”

Police say the driver may have been on drugs. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

On Monday, Insp McGregor said police were considering the possibility that the driver was on drugs when he hit and killed the cyclist.

He said the way the vehicle was being driven prior to the crash led police to that possibility.

“We don’t have any evidence yet that he was on drugs at the time but with that sort of driving you would expect it,” he told Melbourne radio 3AW on Monday.

“It’s something that you could understand would result in a collision like this — ridiculous, stupid, high-risk type driving.”

Shocked onlookers told the Herald Sun the driver calmly removed items from the back seat of the car before running off.

A woman places a floral tribute at Chapel Street, South Yarra where a 27-year-old Dutch female cyclist was hit by a stolen car. Picture: Julian Smith/AAP

Local store worker Tony Christakakis described his shock of the horrific incident.

“I’m gobsmacked, dumbfounded, angry that someone could leave someone (for dead),” he said.

A passer-by rushed to perform CPR on the woman until paramedics arrived.

Police said they were still determining the exact circumstances of the collision and major crime detectives are investigating.

Anyone in Melbourne who saw the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

— with AAP