The trip of a lifetime between a group of friends has turned to tragedy after a 23-year-old Australian woman was struck and killed by a truck in New York City.

Madison Jane Lyden was riding a bicycle past Central Park in New York's City's Upper West Side about 5pm on Friday when she was struck and killed.

A private garbage truck struck Lyden, causing severe head trauma, according to reports.

Images from Lyden's social media show her and her friends enjoying a number of tourist attractions during their trip around the US.

They include a ride in a double-decker open-top bus in New York and posing in front of a large fountain, likely in Central Park.

The girls looked to be making the most of the once-in-a-lifetime trip, smiling widely in every photo as they travelled around one of the world's most famous cities.

A witness told New York Daily News that the Lyden did not appear to be wearing a helmet when she was struck by the truck.

An NYPD spokesman said a Toyota pulled out in front of Lyden, news.com.au reported.

'An investigation revealed that the female was riding a bicycle northbound on Central Park West, in the bicycle lane, when a black Toyota livery vehicle pulled out into the bike lane from a stopped position,' the spokesman said in a statement.

'The bicyclist swerved and was struck by a private carting truck, which was also travelling northbound on Central Park West.'

The driver of the car and the truck both remained at the scene to give NYPD officers their statements while the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad investigated.

Lyden was rushed to the Roosevelt Hospital nearby but after attempts to revive her failed she was pronounced dead.

CBS News spoke to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio who said a full investigation would be launched into the fatal incident.

'It’s just disgusting what happened here, a 23-year-old, in the bike lane, and of course there has to be a full investigation,' he said.

'This is another example, from my point of view, of the danger of reckless driving. We’re going to make sure there’s a full investigation and we’re going to make sure that there are real consequences if anything happened here that was illegal.'

NBC New York reported the woman was travelling northbound inside the designated bike lane when a car pulled out in front of her causing her to swerve.

While trying to avoid the car Lyden swerved into traffic and was hit by the truck which travelling in the same direction.