By Nick Bonyhady and Laura Chung
A man has become the fifth delivery rider to die on Australian roads in the past three months following a collision with a truck in central Sydney.
Emergency services were called to Chalmers St and Cleveland St, Surry Hills at 6.40pm where they found an Uber Eats delivery rider had died after he was struck by a truck carrying an excavator.
A person has died following a collision with a truck in Surry Hills. Credit: Nick Bonyhady
Witnesses said the cyclist was carrying a black delivery riders' bag.
The truck driver, believed to be in his 30s, has been taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for mandatory testing.
Inquiries are continuing by officers from the Crash Investigation Unit. Police are urging anyone with information or dashcam vision to come forward.
"This evening we learned the incredibly sad news that an Uber Eats delivery partner had passed away following a road accident in the Sydney CBD," an Uber Eats spokesman said.
"We have notified Safework NSW and have contacted our insurance team about the incident. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time.
"In isolation this fatality is devastating. But when considered against a backdrop of multiple recent incidents across the on-demand food delivery sector, it is clear more needs to be done to improve road safety and we are committed to playing a leading role in achieving this."
Earlier in the evening, motorists were advised to avoid the area, with all eastbound lanes on Cleveland St closed at Regent Street. These lanes have since reopened. Meanwhile, all northbound lanes on Chalmers Street remain closed at Cleveland Street.
Monday night's death follows that of a 27-year-old food delivery rider, sparking an outpouring of grief from his fellow riders and calls for more protective equipment and better insurance from the sector's union.
Bijoy Paul, from Bangladesh, died in hospital after he was hit by a car in the southern Sydney suburb of Rockdale about 11am on Saturday while completing an order for Uber Eats.
The other delivery riders who have died in recent months are Xiaojun Chen and Dede Fredy, both on Sydney roads, and Chow Khai Shien in Melbourne. They all worked for various companies.
A NSW government report released earlier this month found gig economy workers receive only limited safety advice from food delivery platforms, suffer abuse and often fear reporting incidents.
Daniel Mookhey, the Labor chair of a NSW parliamentary inquiry into gig work, said "Two deaths in three days is unacceptable. A massive safety crisis is unfolding in the gig economy. It will get worse over summer."
"No one ordering food through an app expects their rider to die on the job. Everyone who goes to work has the right to come home safe."
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.
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