A member of the public called police about an unconscious man on Hawkins Street in the Kalgoorlie suburb of West Lamington at 5.50am.
Emergency services arrived and found the man critically injured.
He was declared dead at the scene and a crime scene was established.
A 29-year-old man from Kalgoorlie has since been charged with murder.
Police will allege he deliberately struck the 42-year-old with a car.
He is due to appear before the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court today.