Hunt goes on for Melbourne freeway killer

Police and search and rescue crews will comb parkland in their hunt for the killers of a Melbourne father shot on a freeway.

Paul Virgona, 46, was found in a bullet-riddled van on the Eastlink Freeway at Donvale about 2.20am on Saturday and police want anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.

They believe Mr Virgona was followed by a Mercedes sedan from his home in Croydon before being shot.

The Mercedes then drove off and was set on fire at Mooroolbark, where the occupants got into a Volkswagen ute and drove off again about 2.50am.

Just after 3.10am, police sighted the Volkswagen on Windermere Drive in Ferntree Gully and attempted to intercept the vehicle.

Police followed the car before it was dumped near Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road at Bayswater and two men ran into the adjacent parkland.

The police air wing, dog squad and critical response team searched the area but could not find the pair.

The parkland will be further searched on Monday.