A motorist warned police of a man walking along the A1 motorway minutes before he was struck and killed by an articulated lorry near Newton Aycliffe on Sunday, police say.
The pedestrian, who has not yet been named, was walking along the inside lane of South-bound carriageway, when he was hit by the Volvo lorry at about 3.20am on Sunday morning.
The accident occurred three-quarters-of-a-mile North of junction 58, near Burtree, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say he may simply have “been in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
Officers are now investigating how he came to be on the motorway.
Inspector Malcolm Smart, from Durham Constabulary, told the Northern Echo: “We are unsure what the full circumstances of the accident are at the moment, as regards to why the pedestrian was there.
“He seems to have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“He suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
“Inquiries are presently going on to identify the man and inform his family.”
The lorry, a Volvo SH-13 3×3, which is owned by a Darlington transport company, was being driven by a man from Bishop Auckland.
Insp Smart said: “We don’t believe he (the lorry driver) is guilty of any offence.”
Visibilty was dark, but good, at the time of the accident, and the road was damp.
The accident happened after another driver, travelling southbound, reported to police that he had to swerve to miss a pedestrian walking along the motorway.
The road was closed for more than five hours. The victim’s body was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital by road ambulance.
Witnesses to the accident are asked to call investigating officers from the accident unit at Durham Constabulary on 0191 375 2159.