Police investigate after a garbage truck driver knocked down an elderly lady and fled the scene (photo: HK01)

A garbage truck struck and killed an elderly woman who was crossing a road in Aberdeen this morning (9 July), with the truck driver then fleeing the scene in the vehicle.

The lady, Ms Chiu, 90, was crossing Aberdeen Reservoir Road at 7.30am this morning when she was struck by the garbage truck, according to witnesses. The truck driver failed to stop – a taxi following the truck stopped and called emergency services. Ambulance crews rushed Chiu unconscious to Queen Mary Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 8am.

Police say they caught up with the truck and its driver, 54-year-old Mr Lo, in Tseung Kwan O, some 20 km away, where they arrested him for dangerous driving causing death. Lo is still being detained, according to police.

Elderly pedestrians are amongst the most vulnerable groups to medium- and heavy-goods vehicles. 80% of elderly pedestrian deaths are caused by such vehicles, according to police. Pedestrians 60 and over make up 50% of pedestrians killed or seriously injured on the roads, and 30% of their accidents are fatal, compared to 22% for all ages, according to Transport Department figures.