"He was always happy and upbeat. His shenanigans on the company two-way always brightened everyone's night."
Those were the words of a colleague mourning the loss of a City of Perth rubbish truck driver who died in hospital on Wednesday after being struck by a ute early Monday morning.
The 48-year-old was reportedly standing beside his truck when he was hit by a Holden utility that sped off from the Metro City nightclub on Roe Street just before 1.30am.
A 20-year-old P-plate driver has been charged with manslaughter, failing to provide assistance to a victim after a traffic incident and novice driver exceeding zero blood alcohol content.
He will face court in February.
The truck driver's colleague, Mic Bowlay, said night shift workers at the council were reeling from the loss of "the most liked person on our crew".
"We worked along side each other for nine years...just his mere presence lifted everyone up," he said.
"He never said a bad thing about anyone....there is not one co-worker today who isn't feeling this loss."
The man underwent surgery at Royal Perth Hospital following the incident but the City of Perth confirmed on Thursday he later died from his injuries.
"It is with deep regret that the City of Perth can confirm a 48-year-old staff member seriously injured in a traffic crash, has died in Royal Perth Hospital," the council's statement read.
"The city will continue to support the staff member's family during this tough time, as well as offering support and counselling services to colleagues."
The incident is being investigated by WA Police and the City of Perth.
Nine News Perth reporter Scott Cunningham, who was at the scene the morning of the crash, said it appeared the ute appeared to have lost control and crashing into the rubbish truck.
"A ute has lost control and crashed into a rubbish truck, then crashed into a parked van on the side of the road which has ended up on the footpath," he told Radio 6PR.
"The ute itself ended up probably another 30 metres down the road and the impact at the front of the ute has caved in part of it and the wheel has ended up another 20 or 30 metres down the street."
