Driver arrested after leaving passenger for dead in fiery crash

A man has been arrested after he allegedly fled the scene of a fiery crash about 65 kilometres north of Melbourne, leaving his passenger for dead.

A Mitsubishi SUV was driving on Kilmore East Road in Kilmore about 8pm yesterday when it crashed into a tree on the side of the road and burst into flames, according to police.

The driver, a 29-year-old Kilmore East man, allegedly fled, jumping the fence of a nearby family home before emergency services arrived.

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The passenger, a 38-year-old Kilmore woman, was cut out of the car and rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Footage filmed by a nearby resident showed the alleged driver shirtless and barefoot, hobbling through his backyard after he jumped the fence.

"I was running from this c--- bro, he was gonna bash me," the alleged driver said in the video.

"He's going to f---ing bash me, bro."

The resident said he tackled the fugitive before the man ran away.

"Don't ever come in here again. How did you get in here?" the resident said in the video.

Police say it's remarkable the accused driver was able to get out of the wreck and run from the scene.

"The vehicle, for some unknown reason, has lost control, travelled to the incorrect side, gone down an embankment and hit a tree," Detective Sergeant Roslyn Wilson said.

"We've had a number of collisions over the last week and we want everyone to pay attention to what they're doing when they're driving."

The Kilmore East man was arrested after he presented to hospital today, where he remains under police guard.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

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