Pedestrian hit by three cars

Jan 3 2009 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into the death of a pedestrian who was killed when he apparently stepped in front of cars on a busy motorway on New Year’s Eve.

Joseph Jury died after being hit by three cars travelling southbound on the A1(M) near the Bowburn slip road near Durham City.

Mr Jury, 29, of Coxhoe, County Durham suffered massive injuries after being initially struck by a Ford Focus and then by a Volvo and a Mercedes.

He was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham but later pronounced dead.

Police say the Focus car was left extensively damaged and the 40-year-old male driver and his two passengers – a male aged 23 and a woman of 39 – were all treated in hospital for shock. The driver also suffered a broken thumb. The Volvo driver, aged 57, from London and the Mercedes driver, aged 42, from Middlesex, were also taken to hospital with shock.

The road was closed for more than six hours in both directions as police accident investigators examined the scene of the collision.

Fire crews were also called to the scene to help clear the crash debris from the stretch of road between Bowburn and Bradbury.

Durham Police released the name of the victim yesterday.

A spokesman said: “Police have spoken to a number of witnesses but are still keen to hear from anyone else who saw the incident which happened in the southbound carriageway of the A1(M) shortly after 4.30pm.”

He said it appeared Mr Jury had entered the nearside lane from the grassed embankment without warning when he was hit by the Ford Focus and flung in the air by the impact before being hit by the other two cars.

A post-mortem is expected to be held within the next two or three days.

Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to contact police on 0345 606-0365.