He said early indications were drugs and alcohol were not a factor, but police would continue to investigate speed, road conditions and the vehicle involved.
The incident occurred where the 60km/h speed limit from Alexandra Parade increases to 100km/h for the Eastern Freeway.
Detective sergeant Luke Miller told reporters at the scene that early indications suggested speed was a factor in the collision, along with “wet, slippery” road conditions from the rain.
He said it was fortunate that the incident occurred during the early hours of the morning when there wasn’t significant traffic.
“It will be traumatic for the family of the worker, I can’t express my condolences [enough].
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“To put a message out there: if you are driving, please drive within the conditions. Don’t speed and obey the road laws. This is yet another example of a collision that’s occurred this year that was preventable.”
Jade Campbell, a construction organiser at the Australian Workers Union, said the death was “so avoidable”. She questioned why there was little signage at the scene and no truck mounted attenuator to protect the worksite by absorbing the impact of an out-of-control vehicle.
Campbell said it was vital that the government stepped in to better protect traffic controllers by giving the Department of Transport more power over traffic management companies.
“Every company tries to push their employees to do more and more unsafe practices because it’s a casualised industry; [traffic control] is a very low-paid job. It’s a race to the bottom,” she said.
“We’re the first people that get looked at as an inconvenience [by drivers], but we’re there to make sure that you get home safely, that we get home safely, that our workers get home safely.”
As of 12.30pm on Wednesday, the outbound lanes of the Eastern Freeway had reopened near Hoddle Street, VicTraffic said.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, with dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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