Hunt for fatal Melbourne hit-run driver

The driver of a red hatchback that hit and killed an elderly man in Melbourne overnight is being warned by police that they will be caught.

Victoria Police are searching for three cars seen in the area of a hit and run in Melbourne's west. (AAP)

A callous driver who hit an elderly man on a Melbourne road and left him for dead will be caught, police insist.

Anthanasious Frangis, 78 from St Albans, died after he was hit by red hatchback near the corner of Main Road East and Erica Avenue in his home suburb about 9pm on Wednesday.

"It's callous, irresponsible, uncaring, selfish," Major Collision Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Brad McArthur told reporters on Thursday.

"It's very disappointing to see that a member of society is prepared to leave another human being for dead on the road.

"I've been doing this for a pretty long time now and I still ask myself 'how could somebody do something like this?'."

Senior Sgt McArthur said police had a high success rate at solving hit-run cases and the driver would be found.

A passer by alerted emergency services after the crash.

Detectives believe a number of people were in the area at the time Mr Frangis was struck and want to speak to the occupants of three vehicles seen on Main Road before the crash.

Police have released images and CCTV footage of three of those cars: the red hatchback and two dark-coloured sedans.

Police want to hear from all witnesses, even if they think their information is not significant.