Professor dies after being hit by car

A Chinese University professor died after being knocked down by a car as he dashed across a pedestrian crossing with his teenage daughter early yesterday.

Professor Julian Critchley, 50, head of the clinical pharmacology division, was hit by the vehicle in Tai Chung Kiu Road, near the junction of Siu Lek Yuen Road in Sha Tin, at 1am.

He was crossing with his 18-year-old daughter and her female friend, also 18, after getting out of a taxi opposite City One Sha Tin, where he lived.

Critchley suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital, where he was declared dead at 3am.

The 27-year-old driver, an off-duty fire officer, passed a breathalyser test with a zero reading, police said.

'There was a heavy downpour when they got out of the taxi. Initial investigations showed his daughter and her friend dashed on to the road and he followed. His daughter and her friend crossed the road safely but he was hit by the car,' Superintendent Li Chiu-keung, of the New Territories South traffic unit, said.