Woman, 78, hit by ute now in stable condition

A woman who was hit by a ute in Dunedin on Saturday remains in a serious but stable condition in Dunedin Hospital.

The 78-year-old woman suffered serious head injuries when she was struck by the ute on George Street in central Dunedin about 1pm on Saturday, police said.

She was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Southern District Command Centre deployment co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Matt Scoles said inquiries were ongoing, but it was believed the driver of the ute was reversing and backed into the woman.

In a stroke of "very good fortune" the first person on the scene was an off duty St John ambulance staff member.

"He was with her immediately after she was struck."So obviously the medical care that she received was top-end right from the outset," he said.