An American tourist riding a dirt bike allegedly killed a Thai woman who was crossing a road in Thailand.

Philip Edward MC Morrow, 37, was reportedly speeding on the two-wheeler when he struck pedestrian Kia Sae-wang, 67, as she walked to the shops to buy on Thursday afternoon.

The Thai woman was flung across the pavement and suffered severe injuries following the crash on Highway 1317 in Chiang Mai province

Police officers said the accident was reported at around 4 pm. Officers arrived at the scene, where they found the uninjured American man on his knees apologising to the victim's family.

Medics administered CPR before rushing a critically injured Kia to the hospital but she died shortly after arrival following the incident in the Mae On district.

Police Colonel Jakarin Atthasongphong, superintendent of the Mae On Police Station, said he was out on patrol when he passed by the scene.

He said: ‘I called the paramedics and hospital staff to perform CPR. The woman was sent to the hospital and we later learned that she had died.

‘We don't know yet how the American driver will take responsibility. His dirt bike was insured.

'We are currently investigating and discussing the matter. The consul and lawyer will join the questioning. However, there shouldn't be any problems with the legal proceedings.

‘It was an accident where one side was riding a motorcycle while the other side, an elderly person, was crossing the road. We are investigating the cause of the accident. There were witnesses at the scene.

'As for whether repenting and apologising would help reduce his punishment, we don't know. It is the court's responsibility to serve the sentence.'

Alcohol tests found that Philip was not drink driving, he added.

The American backpacker was hauled to the police station for interrogation. Upon learning of Kia's passing, the 'deeply remorseful' driver prostrated himself in front of her relatives asking for forgiveness.

Photos show him on his knees, bent over the floor of the station.

Investigations into the crash were ongoing.

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.

However, a lack of road safety education in schools along with notoriously easy driving tests, police failures to enforce road laws, and chronic under-investment in infrastructure, all appear to hamper the efforts.