Two women killed while trying to help injured kangaroo on Melbourne freeway

Two women have died after being hit by a car while trying to help an injured kangaroo on a busy freeway in Melbourne’s north.

The deaths have prompted warnings about the dangers of stopping to help wildlife.

The women were struck and killed on the Hume Highway at Craigieburn on Thursday night.

Road policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said the pair were driving towards the city when they hit a kangaroo and stopped to assist it.

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Police believe another vehicle travelling in the same direction did not see their car until the “last minute” and swerved to avoid it, hitting the women at high speed.

A 30-year-old Beveridge woman died at the scene, while a 30-year-old Thomastown woman was flown to hospital and later died.

The driver stayed at the scene