Hong Kong police have arrested a delivery driver after his van hit and killed a 66-year-old man outside a department store.

The 24-year-old man was detained on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death after an initial investigation showed his van was travelling as fast as 70km/h in a 50km/h zone, a police source said on Friday.

The pedestrian was knocked down outside the Aeon store on the westbound lane of Kornhill Road in Quarry Bay soon after noon. The investigation showed he was trying to cross the road after shopping in the store, the force said.

“The victim was thrown about 10 metres by the impact when he was struck by the delivery van,” the source said.

A passer-by gave the man cardiac massage before paramedics arrived. He was taken unconscious to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan, where he later died.

The impact smashed the vehicle’s windscreen and broke off the front bumper.

“The delivery van left a 30-metre-long brake mark. We believe the vehicle was travelling beyond the speed limit of 50km/h at the time of the incident,” the source said.

Police appealed for witnesses or anyone with information about the crash to contact officers on 3660 6800 or 3660 6848. Officers from the Hong Kong Island traffic unit are investigating the case.

Separately, in To Kwa Wan, a 57-year-old man was knocked unconscious by a delivery van in Ma Tau Wai Road at 10.19am. He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei for treatment.

Police arrested the 56-year-old driver on suspicion of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.

Last year, 97 people died in 94 traffic accidents. In 2020, 97 ­people died in 96 road accidents. The number of serious traffic accidents in the city dropped 4.6 per cent to 1,824 in 2021 from 1,912 the year before.