A 22-year-old man has died after being struck by a car in an alleged hit-and-run on the Mitchell Freeway in Perth's northern suburbs. Police received reports of the incident around 7:20pm on Sunday in the freeway's northbound lanes between Hepburn Avenue and Whitfords Avenue in Padbury.
Ambulance crews found the man with critical injuries, but he later died at the scene. Police allege Michael Brendan Kane, 30, from Iluka, was driving a Toyota Corolla that struck the man and then fled. Kane later surrendered at Joondalup Police Station and was arrested.
Kane faced Joondalup Magistrates Court on Monday and was remanded in custody. He is due back in court in July and has been charged with failing to stop and ensure assistance after an incident occasioning death, and failing to report an incident occasioning death or grievous bodily harm.
The Mitchell Freeway remained closed northbound between Hepburn Avenue and Whitfords Avenue during Monday morning's peak hour, causing heavy traffic congestion before reopening around 9am. Police are urging anyone with information or footage to contact Crime Stoppers.
The death comes after a tragic weekend on Western Australian roads, with four people killed in three separate accidents in regional areas. A 30-year-old passenger died in a car rollover in Jingalup, a 21-year-old woman died after crashing into a tree in East Pingelly, and a 20-year-old man and 17-year-old girl died in a crash in Dandaragan.
WA Police South West Superintendent Paul Van Noort said the road toll is too high, noting that 18 people have died in the South West this year alone, equivalent to the size of an AFL football team.
