Twin of Australian cyclist, 23, killed by a New York garbage truck left sickened by troll who created a Facebook profile pretending to be her dead sister - and sent her a friend request

  • Twin of an Australian cyclist who was killed by a truck receives sickening request
  • Madison Lyden, 23, was killed during an accident near Central Park in New York
  • Twin sister Paige received a friend request from troll pretending to be Madison 

By Ben Hill For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:34 EST, 3 December 2018 | Updated: 23:47 EST, 3 December 2018

The twin of an Australian cyclist who was killed when she was crushed by a rubbish truck in New York has received a sickening Facebook friend request from a troll pretending to be her dead sister.

Geelong woman Madison Lyden, 23, was killed while riding a bicycle along Central Park West on August 10 during a United States holiday.

She was forced to swerve into the path of an oncoming rubbish truck when Uber driver Jose Peralta veered into the bicycle lane. 

Two weeks ago, Ms Lyden's sister Paige received a Facebook friend request from a troll purporting to be her twin.

Two weeks ago, Madison Lyden's (left) sister Paige (right) received a Facebook friend request from a troll pretending to be her twin

Two weeks ago, Madison Lyden's (left) sister Paige (right) received a Facebook friend request from a troll pretending to be her twin

Geelong woman Madison Lyden, 23, was killed while riding a bicycle along Central Park West during a holiday to the United States on August 10 

Geelong woman Madison Lyden, 23, was killed while riding a bicycle along Central Park West during a holiday to the United States on August 10 

She was forced to swerve into the path of an oncoming rubbish truck when Uber driver Jose Peralta veered into the bicycle lane

She was forced to swerve into the path of an oncoming rubbish truck when Uber driver Jose Peralta veered into the bicycle lane

Ms Lyden's other relatives also received an eerie Facebook friend request from the same account.

'It's so horrible that someone made a fake account in her name. We have no idea who did this,' Paige Lyden told Nine News. 

'It honestly made me feel just sick to my stomach to think that someone out there went to the effort to set up an account in her name.

'And then they went to the trouble of searching her family and friends and adding them, why would you even do that? It's so messed up. What did they hope to achieve?'

The Lyden family reported the fake Facebook account and it was eventually deleted - but so was Madison's real profile.

The family wanted the real page to stay active as a legacy of her life.

The Lyden family reported the fake Facebook account and it was eventually deleted - but so was Madison's real profile

The Lyden family reported the fake Facebook account and it was eventually deleted - but so was Madison's real profile

Madison's Facebook account also contained precious family photos which were  lost.

Facebook has since confirmed it would reactivate a memorialised version of Madison's account.

Madison was riding a bike along Central Park West near West 67th Street when Uber driver Jose Peralta allegedly strayed into her bike lane.

The New York Police Department said Madison swerved to avoid impact, only to swerve into the path of a sanitation truck driven by Felipe Chairez.

Police allegedly found three empty beer cans in Chairez's truck and charged him with driving under the influence. 

The New York Police Department said Madison died when she was forced to swerve into the path of a sanitation truck driven by Felipe Chairez

The New York Police Department said Madison died when she was forced to swerve into the path of a sanitation truck driven by Felipe Chairez

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Troll creates a fake Facebook profile pretending to be dead woman and adds sister as a friend

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