UPDATE: Woman taking dog on morning walk when hit, killed

The Wangaratta resident, aged in her 50s, was crossing Ryley Street at the intersection of Warby Street on Monday.

She was struck by a white 2008 Iveco truck weighing at least five tonnes on Ryley Street, killing her at the scene.

The driver had turned right from Warby Street into Ryley Street shortly before 8am. 

The woman's Labrador was injured and was being looked after by a local veterinarian.

Sergeant Tim Hart on Monday morning said the woman was yet to be formally identified.

“Unfortunately she died at the scene,” he said. “The investigation is ongoing.”

The truck driver, a 26-year-old Wangaratta man, was questioned by police and released pending enquiries. 

Several witnesses spoke to police about the incident and gave descriptions of what had occurred.

Staff at several local businesses did not see the crash. 

A security camera at the nearby Ryley Motor Inn pointed towards the scene, but a man at the business said it didn't work. 

One woman said she hadn't seen the incident, but saw the driver being put in handcuffs before being taken from the area. 

The Melbourne-based Major Collision Investigation Unit is investigating the matter.

Sergeant Hart said the truck driver was “very upset by it”.

He said it was unclear what had caused the crash.

“It’s too early to tell yet,” Sergeant Hart said from the scene.  “We’re just waiting for witnesses. It’s an ongoing investigation.

“A number of people have come forward with information, but if anybody else was in the area at the time and hasn’t spoken to police, they should call us or call Crime Stoppers.

“It’s very unfortunate.

“It’s another reminder that we need to take care whether you’re a pedestrian or a driver and look after each other.”

Ryley Street had to be closed to traffic for several hours as police examined the scene. 

The driver, who worked for a Wangaratta-based business, would have been looking into bright sunlight moments before the crash. 

There were five road deaths in the Wangaratta government area last year, up from two fatalities in 2015. 

Monday’s incident was the second fatality in the region this year. 

A man in his late 80s died on January 7 after his car hit a tree on Kealy Road in Benalla. 

Witnesses can call (03) 5723 0888 or 1800 333 000.