A pensioner was run over and killed in a possible hit-and-run in Oxford city centre.

The elderly man, who has not yet been named, died after he was struck at the junction of St Aldate’s and Speedwell Street near Oxford’s main police station at about 12.05am today.

He was discovered lying half on the pavement and half on the road, near to roadworks, with multiple head injuries. He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police do not know what type of vehicle was involved.

They are investigating whether he was run over by a bus or a stretched Hummer vehicle, which was spotted near the scene. Detectives also want to trace four young women spotted in the area who they believe are vital witnesses.

Sgt Mark Ponting said: “At this moment I can say he was run over by somebody. He was involved in a collision.

“Whether it was a fail to stop or the driver was unaware of the collision will make up part our investigation.

“We currently don’t know what happened. We don’t know what vehicle was involved at the moment.

“Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach are both helping with our inquiries and we need to find the driver of the stretched Hummer to eliminate them from our inquiries.

“There are many scenarios how this gentlemen ended up dead in the road and we are making inquiries into all of them.”

The dead man, who was in his late 60s, is due to be formally identified tomorrow.

He was described as elderly, white and about 5ft 7in tall.

He was wearing brown trousers, a blue shirt, a cream jumper and a grey anorak with a wide brown stripe down the arms, a brown flat cap and was carrying a white plastic bag.

A spokesman for Oxford Bus Company denied reports the man was struck by any of their buses but admitted being interviewed by police.

The spokesman added: “It appears that the deceased had been lying in the road before our vehicle travelled along Speedwell Street.”

A Stagecoach spokesman said it was also helping with the police investigation.

The junction is currently undergoing roadworks and the width of the lanes are restricted by barriers.

Two weeks ago, a man in his 60s suffered severe head injuries after a late-night collision with a vehicle about 100 yards further up the road towards Christ Church.

Richard Gibbs, of Cafe Loco in St Aldate’s, said: “For cyclists, it’s one of the most dangerous junctions in Oxford.

“Someone, generally every week, comes off their bike out here.”

Hirono Piggott of Alice’s Shop said: “I don’t think it’s dangerous. I haven’t seen any near misses – occasionally someone goes past the line then has to reverse because they’ve gone too far, but that’s about it.”

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk