A man has told how he tried to help save a woman hit by a van but was later upset to learn that she had died in hospital.

The pedestrian, 39, reportedly from the Worcester Park area, was hit in Old Malden Lane, Worcester Park, just after 11am on Saturday and was airlifted to St George’s Hospital in Tooting with head injuries.

She died the following day.

A 34-year-old man from Surbiton has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and also dangerous driving.

From yesterday: Van driver from Surbiton arrested after woman hit and killed in Worcester Park

Alfred Kovaci, 38, who works at the River Club in Old Malden Lane, said he was driving a few cars behind the black Primastar Nissan van when the crash happened.

Mr Kovaci said: “I was the one who called the police and they turned up and the ambulance and the air ambulance turned up as well.

“I was speaking to the driver and he wasn’t talking. He was shocked. The officers came and handcuffed him. It was shocking for all of us."

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Mr Kovaci and other drivers went to help the injured woman but they did not want to do anything that would move her. As she was taken to the air ambulance, he spoke to one of the paramedics.

He said: “I said ‘what are the chances?'

“She said she had got a very bad head injury. I was thinking fingers crossed she’s going to survive.

"I received the bad news yesterday. It’s very, very sad.”

The club told him she had died and that she was a mother.

He said another driver told him that the woman in exercise kit had been running along the side of the road.

But he said: “It’s not a proper walking path, it’s a countryside road. It’s very dangerous there.”

He said something must be done to prevent speeding and a pedestrian pathway needs to be built so that people can walk in safely.

He said: "What happened that day is unbelievable."

Floral tributes have been left at the spot where the crash took place.

A builder from Kent and Sussex Ltd, who was working close by, who asked not to be named, said: "We've been working along this road and there is definitely a speed issue here.

"We're building the boundary wall close to the road and it's frightening the speed the cars come down."

A resident who lives in the road said that the air ambulance had landed in a nearby field after being called by staff at the River Club.

He said: "She didn't go out for a jog not to come home again."

On Saturday the River Club Tweeted: “Apologies to all members who were stranded at the club today due to the accident on Old Malden Lane. Our thoughts are with the family.”

The van driver has been released on bail until January 8 as the investigation continues.

Anyone who has any information about this incident should contact Surrey Police on 101, quoting the reference number P14321663.