Motorist dies after being struck by TWO vehicles on M-way

Police are today trying to establish how he came to be in the carriageway at the time of the tragedy yesterday afternoon

It is believed the 36-year-old Balby man’s car had broken down on the hard shoulder of the A1(M) near Warmsworth - but it is not known why he stepped into the first lane of the carriageway and into the path of a lorry.

The tragedy led to the closure of the motorway for almost three hours and brought gridlock to the town centre and White Rose Way as motorists diverted off the A1(M) tried to find alternative routes round the blockage.

Some commuters reported taking more than half an hour to get through the town centre.

The dead man has not yet been named by police and it will be next week before an inquest is opened by the Doncaster Coroner.

Police are seeking witnesses to the collision which happened at around 2.10pm yesterday on the A1(M) northbound, approximately a mile north of the Warmsworth interchange.

It is believed the man who died had parked his Ford Ka on the hard shoulder after it broke down.

But when he left the car he was struck by a passing large goods vehicle in the first lane of the carriageway.

As the lorry driver swerved to try to avoid the pedestrian the LGV struck a blue Honda Jazz.

“A second large goods vehicle is believed to have then possibly collided with the deceased as he was laid out in the carriageway,” said South Yorkshire Police spokesman Mike Trees.

The driver of the first lorry, a 44-year-old man from West Lothian, Scotland, was unhurt in the incident.

The driver of the Jazz, a 64-year-old man from Cottingham, East Yorkshire and the driver of the second lorry, a 47-year-old man from Flanderwell, near Rotherham, also escaped injury.

After the collision both the northbound and southbound carriageway between junction 36 and 37 were closed for around two-and-a-half hours.

“We are appealing for witnesses to the incident or anyone who saw the movements of the driver and the Ford Ka prior to the collision happening to contact the investigation team,” said Mr Trees.

Contact the South Yorkshire Police Accident Witness Line on 0114 220 2970.