A MAN is dead after the driver of a crane veered into an emergency lane on one of Melbourne’s busiest roads.

The man, identified as a 34-year-old from Hoppers Crossing, died shortly after 7.20am after stepping out of the truck he was a passenger in on Melbourne’s Western Ring Road at Deer Park.

Police say the truck pulled into an emergency lane while the man checked the load was secure. He was then hit and killed by a passing crane.

Pictures from the scene show the man’s body beneath a blue sheet. The truck the victim was travelling in suffered significant damage to its rear end.

A second man, 23, identified as a workmate of the victim, watched in horror as the crash unfolded. The driver of the crane truck, 31, was arrested at the scene and is expected to be interviewed by police on Tuesday.

The truck carrying the crane suffered damage to its front left side, including a punctured tyre.

The Ring Road was closed to Greensborough-bound traffic and drivers are being urged to avoid the area.

VicRoads says motorists should exit at Ballarat Road, Deer Park, or earlier.

Chris Miller from VicRoads said there are lengthy delays and the road is expected to be closed for some time.

“It’s just a hideous scene,” he said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Clancy said the crash was “mind boggling”, according to the Herald Sun.

“It was a straight stretch of road … he would’ve had good observations of anything on the left hand side of the truck,” he said.

Det Sen Sgt Clancy told 3AW: “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 truck.”

Officers from Victoria’s Major Collision Investigation Unit remain on the scene.