A 25-year-old Heathcote Junction man is believed to have been struck by a truck as he walked north along the Hume Freeway near the Wandong-Kilmore Rd exit in Wandong, north of Melbourne, just before 4am.

The man died at the scene.

Police were earlier recovering a smashed-up car from the median strip of the Hume Highway near the accident scene.

It is belived the man driving to work at the time and crashed car was his.

The Herald Sun understands a truck driver – not the one involved in the incident – called police shortly before the accident to raise the alarm about a man walking in the road.

It is believed the man was in the road when he was struck by the truck and not walking along the side of the road, as reported earlier.

Police spokeswoman Clair White said: “It appears the man was struck by a truck as he walked northbound on the southbound side of the road.”

The nearest service station is located 5km from the accident scene.

Less than half an hour after that incident, another man in his 20s died after being thrown from his car during a crash in Cranbourne South.

Police believe the driver lost control on Meadow Rd, about 100 meters east of Craig Rd, and crashed through a fence about 4.20am.

The man, believed aged in his 20s, died at the scene.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

The men’s deaths brings Victoria’s road toll to 53 this year compared with 48 at the same time last year.