An alarming CityLink crash in Melbourne has drawn huge attention online after dash cam footage showed a motorcyclist being dragged by a truck in the Burnley Tunnel

A motorbike rider narrowly avoided catastrophe in Melbourne after almost ending up beneath a large truck while lane filtering through busy tunnel traffic.

The incident happened about 4.30pm last Tuesday in the Burnley Tunnel at Richmond on the CityLink tollway. Dash cam video shows the rider coming up behind two vehicles, a van in one lane and a truck in the other.

As the rider tries to pass between them, the motorbike is struck on its right-hand side and begins to wobble violently. Moments later, the bike falls onto the road and is dragged under the truck, sending sparks flying as it scrapes along the surface.

The rider somehow stays out from under the truck. In the footage, he can be seen sprawled across the bike while pushing against the tarmac with his left hand as he is pulled along.

The van driver and the truck driver both hit the brakes within seconds.

Wild footage of the incident was shared online after the crash last week. “Hesitant to upload as the guy nearly died but here it is,” the person who caught the footage said.

Victoria Police said the incident had not been reported, and it is unclear whether the rider was injured.

The video has been watched hundreds of thousands of times since it was posted on the Dash Cam Owners Australia page last Wednesday, prompting stunned reactions from viewers. Many said the rider was “lucky to be alive”.

Some also noted there was a free lane to the left of the truck that appeared available for a safer pass around both vehicles.

“Lucky the oversized driver was a professional driver. Obviously checking his mirrors and noticed, stopped and saved a life,” one commenter wrote.

“Should buy a lottery ticket … What was he attempting?” another asked