Man killed by allegedly illegally modified e-bike ‘just going out to get tea’

The brother of a 69-year-old man who was killed after being hit by an allegedly illegally modified electric bike travelling at 80km/h in Hastings has pleaded for e-bikes to be recycled or “melted down”.

The brother of the man who tragically died after being struck by an allegedly illegally modified e-bike has delivered a heartfelt plea for them to be recycled or “melted down”.

Hastings man, William Lothian, 69, was crossing Frankston-Flinders Rd around 6.40pm on Monday when he was struck by an allegedly modified e-bike that it’s claimed is capable of reaching speeds of up to 90km/h.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but tragically succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday afternoon.

His younger brother Raymond Lothian has since detailed the extent of his brother’s fatal injuries and pleaded for e-bikes to be taken off the streets.

“All he was doing was going out to get us some tea,” Mr Lothian was reported as saying.

“I’m sitting there and I thought, ‘jeez, he’s taking his time’ and then there was a knock on the door. So I answered the door and there was two policemen and they’ve told me about Willie being hit.”

According to Mr Lothian, William suffered an “un-survivable brain injury” as a result of the collision in addition to other internal injuries.

“Yesterday they removed him off life support and let him pass away,” Mr Lothian said.

“One saving grace is he wouldn’t have had any pain.

“Recycle them, melt them down or something,” he said of e-bikes, “but get rid of them because they’re a danger.”

Police say the e-bike allegedly involved in the collision was “significantly” modified with extra batteries that were held together by duct tape and cable ties.

The rider, a 24-year-old Hastings man, was also taken to hospital with serious injuries following the collision.

Major Collision Investigation Unit Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said the rider could expect to be charged with a series of traffic offences.

Those charges are now likely to be more severe after the victim died.

Riders can incur a $988 fine for riding unlicensed or unregistered bikes, and can be hit with a $395 fine for failing to wear a helmet, which would also wipe three demerit points.

The illegally modified bike was held together with duct tape and cable ties. Picture: 3AW

The victim was crossing the single-lane road under a street light near the Ford dealership in Hastings and was on his way home from collecting groceries nearby when he was hit.

Nearby businesses reportedly heard screams from the scene in the moments after the crash.

The collision follows a diabolical four days on the state’s roads with 12 people killed in pedestrian and traffic crashes.

Two road deaths were recorded in Clayton South while others lost their lives at Moutajup, Kurunjang, Pootilla, Trafalgar, Swan Hill West, Eganstown and West Footscray.

Another driver was killed in a separate crash in Wangaratta South early on Tuesday morning.

“All of these collisions are avoidable. A terrible four days,” Insp McEvoy said.

“It’s just tragic and could all be avoidable.”

Originally published as Man killed by allegedly illegally modified e-bike ‘just going out to get tea’