The woman, 47, and the man, 49, were hit by an out-of-control vehicle which had veered onto a footpath on Victoria Rd.

The car involved in the fatal pedestrian accident on Victoria road, Rozelle. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Bystanders ran to their aid, including a surgeon ­cycling past who stopped and performed CPR.

Witnesses said passing motorists detained the 22-year-old driver who got out of his ute and allegedly tried to flee.

He was last night charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop and render assistance.

Police at the scene where one pedestrian has died and a second has been taken to hospital after being hit by a car on Victoria Road, Rozelle. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

The horrific crash happened about 11am on Victoria Rd near Robert St. The impact was so powerful the left-hand side of the ute’s windscreen was smashed in.

Witness Adrian Briscoe, 50, was at home when he heard three loud bangs and rushed onto the street to see what was happening.

“Everyone came out, people were screaming ‘call an ambulance’,” he said.

A witness to the tragic accident is comforted at the scene. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

One woman held up a sheet while the surgeon worked on the pair. Mr Briscoe said a third man, who had been walking with the pair when they were struck, was shouting at the driver.

“There was this angry guy, as the cops ran up and grabbed this guy and handcuffed him and frogmarched him back, he shouted ‘you f ... ing killed my brother’,” Mr Briscoe said

“It is terrible so close to Christmas, people just going for an innocent Sunday stroll and, bang, a life has ended — it is horrid.”

The male pedestrian, believed to be in his late 20s, was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition.

The driver was also taken to the RPA for blood and urine testing before he was escorted to Newtown police station to be interviewed.

Two city-bound lanes of Victoria Rd were closed and about 50m of footpath was cordoned off for much of the afternoon as police investigated the fatal crash.