A man has been charged over the pre-dawn hit-and-run in Sydney’s east that killed a promising young lawyer earlier this week.

NSW Police said on Friday a man from Bexley, in Sydney’s south, was arrested after handing himself in to police earlier in the day.

“Following extensive inquiries, a 63-year-old man was arrested by investigators after attending Granville Police Station just after 11am today,” a police statement said.

“He was charged with fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death, dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death) and driver use mobile phone when not permitted,” a police statement said.

It follows the death on Sunday of 28-year-old Mitch East, after he was found critically injured in a Tamarama street. Paramedics performed CPR but could not revive him, and he died at the scene.

East worked for Sydney law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, where senior partners described him as “a highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member of the firm, whose loss will be deeply felt”.

East graduated from Harvard Law School in 2022 after studying and beginning his legal career in New Zealand.

On Wednesday, East’s grief-stricken mother told NZ media that he was her only child and her “reason for living”.

“I died when he did. The pain is unbearable. So I just can’t think straight to talk, sorry,” she said.

She said her son was “a good person with a good heart”.

A GoFundMe to raise money to support East’s family after his death has so far raised more than $105,000.

The Bexley man was refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.