MOSCOW, October 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Winter Olympic champion Alexei Prokurorov died on Friday after he was hit by a car in the Vladimir Region, 200 km (124 miles) to the east of Moscow, a local police spokesman said.

"Prokurorov died this morning in a road accident in Vladimir. He was hit by a car near a railway station," the spokesman said.

According to media reports, he was crossing the road when the car hit him and died at the scene. He was 44.

Prokurorov won gold at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games in the 30km freelance skiing event. He was also the flag bearer for the Soviet Olympic team at the 1988 Olympics and the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. In all, he participated in five Olympic Games during his career.

The police spokesman also said that a man had been arrested in connection with the accident on drunk-driving charges.

Prokurorov had been the trainer of Russia's female Olympic skiers for the last two years. He will be buried in Vladimir on October 13.