UPDATE 6.45pm: A 19-year-old North Bendigo woman has been charged after a fatal hit-and-run in northern Victoria overnight.

The woman was taken into custody following the death of a 45-year-old female, found on the side of the Midland Highway at Huntly on Sunday morning.

The 19-year-old was arrested this morning and this afternoon charged with dangerous driving causing death and other traffic-related offences.

She has been bailed to appear at the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on August 19.

UPDATE 3pm: Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have arrested a 19-year-old North Bendigo woman following the death of a woman at Huntly this morning.

The 45-year-old Kennington woman’s body was found beside the Midland Highway at about 3am.

Paramedics attended but she died at the scene.

UPDATE 10am: Police say the woman attended a  21^st birthday party at the Huntly hotel and after an altercation between 12.30am and 12.45am, left to walk home.

The woman sent a text message to her boyfriend to say she was walking home and called him about 1am. It was then that her phone cut out while she was talking. It is believed she was struck by a car.

“She was struck while walking on the road,’’ major collision unit detective senior sergeant Brad McArthur, said.

“We are not entirely sure of the circumstances of that, but she has remained on the side of the road for a couple of hours before a passing motorist has seen her handbag.’’

It’s believed a separate accident was reported to the Huntly hotel about 3am. A person from the hotel drove out to the site in Howard Street at Epsom, and when driving back noticed a handbag beside the road.

That person then found the woman’s body and attempted to perform CPR.

Police are also investigating the site where a car was found crashed into a tree on Howard Street. They believe it is the same car that struck the woman.

Police are speaking to a person at the Bendigo Police Station in relation to the car.

“The offences we are looking at is that she has struck this victim and has failed to stop and render assistance,’’ detective senior sergeant McArthur said.

“These are devastating types of incidences where human beings are struck on the road and people don’t stop to make any sort on inquiries into the health and welfare of that person.

“The community is rightly outraged at these type of events and people need to step up and if they know anything about it, let the police know.’’

​UPDATE 9.40am: The Midland Highway is closed through Huntly. 

Traffic is being redirected from Ligar Street on the south and Sargeants Road to the north. 

EARLIER: Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating after a woman was found beside the Midland Highway at Huntly about 3am today.

Initial investigations at the scene indicate that the woman may have been hit by a car.

Emergency crews treated the woman at the scene but were unable to save her life.

The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be established but police are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

More to come.