A crane driver has been interviewed and released by police after his rig struck and killed a man on the side of a Melbourne freeway.
The 34-year-old victim had been a passenger in a truck which stopped in the emergency lane of the Western Ring Road at Deer Park on Tuesday morning when he and the driver went to check their load.
"From what we can gather, the crane truck was straddling the far left lane and emergency lane and has collided into the rear of the (stopped) truck," , Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Clanchy told radio 3AW.
Photos from the scene show a badly damaged smaller truck after being hit and pushed by the much larger crane vehicle.
The driver of the smaller truck, 23, was in the vehicle as it was shunted several metres.
"He was extremely traumatised, he was taken to hospital," Sgt Clanchy said.
Police said the crane driver, a 31-year-old man from Wendouree, was interviewed by detectives and released pending further inquiries.
"The crane truck is a left-hand drive, it's mind boggling as to why he didn't observe the stationary truck," Sgt Clanchy said.
The crash caused considerable traffic delays in the area throughout Tuesday.
Anyone with dash cam footage of the smash is urged to contact police.
