Father identified as traffic worker who died in 'avoidable' crash in Melbourne

Tributes are flowing for a 58-year-old Melbourne traffic controller who went to work last night but never made it home.

Peter Dyck was working outside his ute on the Eastern Freeway in Clifton Hill just after midnight when he was allegedly hit by a driver.

The Australian Workers' Union's Jade Campbell told media today the father's death was "completely avoidable".

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The father from Boronia was taken to hospital but later died.

The incident occurred just as the speed limit changed from 60km/h to 100km/h.

Campbell said safety standards for traffic controllers needed to be improved.

She said traffic controllers were some of the most vulnerable workers on the road, with near-misses happening daily.

"They (are) the first ones to set up and the last ones to leave. They are the least paid person on (a site) and they have the hardest job out there," Campbell said.

"They have to make sure everyone is safe but they are the closest to death.

"I was previously a traffic controller for many years and there wasn't a day that didn't go by where I was nearly killed."

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Campbell questioned why the man appeared to working alone in "dangerous" conditions.

"He was at the entry of a freeway, he should have had a truck mounted attenuator, he shouldn't have been in a ute," she said.

"It should have not happened, every single one of the deaths we have had in traffic management is avoidable and yet it was still happening.

"He should have had a complete team. As far as I know, there wasn't much there."

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Senior Sergeant Christian von Tunk told 3AW the vehicle had lost control and struck the barrier several times.

The driver of the Toyota coupe, a 27-year-old man from North Melbourne, was also hospitalised.

Von Tunk confirmed the driver had undergone drug and alcohol testing, but said early investigations suggested drugs and alcohol were not a factor.

"As he lost control he's unfortunately collected a roadworker who was inspecting a light pole there on the left-hand side," Tunk said.

The outbound lanes of the Eastern Freeway have since re-opened under Hoddle Street.

The driver is assisting police with their investigations.