Family mourns young cyclist killed in collision with a truck in Bendigo

A grieving family has paid tribute to a young man “with the world at his feet”, killed in a collision with a truck as he cycled along a Bendigo street.

Michael Keating. Picture: Victoria Police

A teen was riding his bike to get lunch when he was killed after a truck crashed into him.

Grappling with their loss, Michael Keating’s family paid tribute to the promising young man.

“Our hearts are broken,” the family said in a statement.

“Michael was only 18 years old with the world at his feet.”

“A normal day at work ended in tragedy when he set off on his bike to get lunch.

“Riding along, he never made it back to work.”

Mr Keating, who died at the scene, and the truck driver collided at a Bendigo intersection on Friday at 12.10pm.

The truck driver stopped and is speaking with police.

Mr Keating, who was also a keen hockey player, was a fourth generation in the Keating Transport family business in which he managed the warehouses and was primed for higher roles as he got older.

“He had an ability to back the B-doubles around the yard that not many kids have,” the family said.

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The teen’s death coincided with the start of a road campaign tackling drink driving, speeding, mobile phone use and safety on country roads this long weekend.

Victoria’s road toll is at a 14-year high with authorities pleading for drivers to take more care on the road.

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