Cyclist dies after being hit by garbage truck on Moorooduc Highway
A CYCLIST has died after being struck by a garbage truck in Moorooduc this morning.
South East
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A FRANKSTON family is in mourning after the death of a man hit by a rubbish truck while out cycling today.
The 61-year-old was riding on the Moorooduc Highway at Mornington, about 10km from his home, when he was flung from his bike by the impact of the smash.
Officers believe the cyclist had been wearing headphones but they are yet to find his phone.
Photos from the scene show the truck, from waste company JJ Richards, came to a halt in bushes to the side of the highway and was wedged between tree branches, suggesting the driver had swerved sharply from the road.
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How it clipped the cyclist, and whether anyone was at fault, remains under investigation and police have called for any passing motorists who may have seen the crash to come forward.
What detectives do know is that the rider on a white Reid Osprey bike was heading north on Moorooduc Hwy, not far from the Bungower Rd intersection, about 10.40am when he was hit by the truck heading the same way.
The driver, a 53-year-old Noble Park man, stopped and has been helping police.
Frankston Acting Senior Sergeant Patrick Hayes said it was “a tragic set of circumstances”.
“A man riding his push bike has sadly lost his life,” Sen-Sgt Hayes said.
“Despite the best efforts of paramedics on scene they were unable to save the life of the cyclist.”
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The stretch of road has a 100km/h speed limit and is quite remote, so there have been no witnesses to the crash to help paint a picture of what occurred.
Both sides of the road are covered by dense scrub and the surrounding area is mainly farmland.
“We’re in the early stages of our investigation. Major Collisions Investigation Unit and our local highway patrol are working together to ascertain the cause of the collision,” Sen-Sgt Hayes said.
He urged motorists returning from holidays over the long weekend to “drive to the road conditions, take fatigue breaks if you require them and generally be safe on our roads”.
Emergency services remain on the scene and northbound lanes on Moorooduc Hwy remain closed between Tyabb Rd and Bungower Rd.
Traffic delays are expected for much of the afternoon.
Meanwhile a motorcyclist has died in a crash with another car in Heathcote in the state’s north.
The man, believed to be aged in his 50s, died at the scene on the Northern Hwy at Ladys Pass about 11.15am.
He is yet to be formally identified.
Two women in their 60s, who were in the other car, were treated for shock at the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au