Cyclist dead in hit-run on Plummer St in Port Melbourne

The relatives of a 27-year-old food delivery rider who died after being hit by a car in Port Melbourne will fly to Australia to collect his body.

The cyclist killed in the Port Melbourne crash was a food delivery rider. Picture: Gabriel Bouys

The driver of the Audi Q5 that fatally struck a food delivery driver in Port Melbourne on Tuesday night has been granted bail.

Thirty-two year old Dylan Wilson was behind the wheel when he hit 27-year-old Juan Ignacio, but allegedly failed to pull over, leaving the Chilean national dying on the road.

He later handed himself into police.

Mr Wilson ran from the court on Thursday to avoid waiting media, after initially hiding out inside the building for nearly four hours following his appearance.

Food delivery driver Juan Ignacio, 27, died after being hit by a car in Port Melbourne.

He will face a charge of failing to stop and render assistance at an accident when he fronts court again in December.

The family of the food delivery driver is currently making the trip to Australia to collect their loved ones’ body.

The cyclist became the 18th delivery rider to be killed in Australia since 2017 which Transport Workers’ Union National Secretary Michael Kaine labelled a “senseless tragedy”.

Seven News reported on Wednesday the driver worked at a luxury car dealership and had borrowed a customer’s car for the night, before being unexpectedly asked to return it.

The cyclist died at the scene after being hit by the Audi on Plummer St shortly after 8pm on Tuesday.

The driver initially fled the scene before later handing himself in to police.

A DoorDash spokesperson said they were “absolutely devastated by this tragic loss of life”.

Transport Workers’ Union National Secretary Michael Kaine labelled it a “senseless tragedy”, and said it was time gig economy workers were treated fairly.

“For a food delivery rider to not return home after a shift is a senseless tragedy that his family and the wider gig community will be now forced to grapple with,” Mr Kaine said.

“Food delivery riders currently have no rights like a safe and fair minimum wage, sick leave, protection against unfair contract terminations, and workers’ compensation in the horrific event something goes wrong.”

Transport Workers’ Union National Secretary Michael Kaine said it was a “senseless tragedy” that the food delivery cyclist was killed. Picture: John Appleyard

Mr Kaine said that gig economy employers should be on notice, with parts of the federal government’s Closing the Loopholes legislation aimed at protecting casual workers due to come into effect on August 26.

“Next week legislation will take effect which will allow us to start reforming this horrifically exploitative industry,” he said.

“We will work to ensure the deadly pressures on gig workers to work long hours, late nights and rush through deliveries is eased and that, where these tragedies occur, families can access appropriate compensation that any other worker would automatically receive.”

The driver was bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 22.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has CCTV, dashcam footage, or any other information that could assist police, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.