A teenage boy has died after the electric motorbike he was a passenger on collided with two cars at a notorious hot spot in Melbourne's north.
The incident occurred at the busy Plenty Road and Findon Road intersection in South Morang, during peak hour traffic at 5.30pm on Wednesday.
The 15-year-old was riding on the back of an e-bike with his 17-year-old friend driving when it collided with two cars.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and took the 17-year-old to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, but his friend couldn't be saved and died at the site.
The drivers of the two cars involved in the accident stopped to help the boys and were assisting police with their enquiries.
There was at least one helmet seen at the crash site, and Victoria Police told Daily Mail on Thursday morning that they were still investigating whether the victim was wearing a helmet.
7News reported on Thursday that witnesses claimed the 15-year-old was not wearing a helmet and the e-bike may have run a red light.
One member of a Facebook community group with ties to South Morang said it was a 'tragedy waiting to happen'.
Police examine the e-bike involved in the crash at South Morang, in Melbourne's north, on Wednesday afternoon
The incident occurred on Plenty Road which locals say is notorious for reckless e-bike use
'They were flying up and down my street just before the accident. They've been doing it for a long time. I'm not surprised this happened at all. Someone was always bound to be killed. It was a tragedy waiting to happen,' they said.
'Last week I encountered young hoons weaving by me in dense traffic on Plenty Road, doing wheelies and endangering other drivers. Accident waiting to happen,' another said.
'I see them every single day. Up and down the main roads in and out of traffic,' a third wrote on social media.
The teenager's death was the latest in a string of e-bike accidents across the country, which have prompted crackdowns on the devices in a number of states.
On Monday, two teenage boys died after a bus and motorised bike collided in Sydney's west.
Emergency services rushed to the Liverpool-Parramatta Transitway at Bossley Park, following reports of a crash around 7.15pm.
The 15-year-old rider and his 14-year-old passenger died at the scene.
The bus driver wasn't injured but was taken to hospital for mandatory testing. No bus passengers were injured in the collision.
The 15-year-old died at the scene while his 17-year-old friend was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries
On Monday, two teenage boys died after a bus and motorised bike collided in Sydney's west
Harrowing footage showed bystanders who appeared to be family members becoming emotional and hugging as emergency crews attended to the boys.
'This is what happens when the NSW State Government ignores repeated requests for action on e-bikes on the T-Way,' Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said.
Mayor Carbone said he had written to Premier Chris Minns weeks ago requesting the section of road be policed more heavily, as he was worried someone would be injured.
The NSW Premier introduced a new minimum age limit for e-bike riders last month.
Under NSW's current laws, which are to be modified, a child of any age is allowed to ride an e-bike and carry passengers.
All legal e-bikes in NSW must have motors that cut out once they exceed 25km/h, otherwise they are classified as a motorbike and require a licence.
Victoria similarly imposes a maximum e-bike speed of 25km/h but has no age limit on who can ride them.
From July 1, riders in Queensland will need to hold a valid learner's permit or licence to use e-bikes, while parents who supply them to underage children could also face fines.
Western Australia and the Northern Territory are the only states and territories to currently impose an age restriction on e-bikes, with riders required to be at least 16 years old.
Anyone who witnessed the incident in South Morang, with footage or information, is urged to contact police.