A FATHER-OF-ONE was knocked over and killed on the A1(M) the day after police were called to another road amid concern for his safety.

Former amateur boxer Joseph Jury, of The Grove, Kelloe, County Durham, was hit by a car travelling at 70mph in the inside lane on the late afternoon of New Year’s Eve, and died of multiple injuries. It is believed he was also struck by two other vehicles.

The evening before, unemployed Mr Jury was seen on the A177. Police sent officers to ensure he got home safely after receiving calls from concerned motorists, an inquest heard yesterday.

Driver Michael Brown, of Stanley, County Durham, told the hearing that although it was dark, conditions on the A1(M) were good, and traffic was light at about 4.35pm.

As he passed under a bridge near Bowburn Services, a figure appeared in the beam of his dipped headlights.

He said: “I would say a second or less was the time I had to react. It was almost instant.

I couldn’t be sure for definite if he was facing away from me or facing towards me. It was my opinion he was facing me.’’ After the collision he pulled onto the hard shoulder immediately.

Derek Callaghan, of Sunderland, who was about to overtake Mr Brown when the accident happened, said he did well not to lose control of the car.

He thought at first that Mr Brown had hit an animal.

On New Year’s Eve, Mr Jury took a bus from Durham towards Coxhoe at 3pm but was asked to get off near the Bowburn interchange. The driver told police Mr Jury had appeared drunk when he got on.

North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle said toxicological tests had proved inconclusive, and said it was possible Mr Jury had been drinking before he died because “it is not the brightest thing to do, to go walking in a road. Walking along the motorway is potentially very serious and dangerous indeed.”

He said Mr Brown had been driving at an appropriate speed for the conditions, and that a collision was “probably inevitable” when Mr Jury suddenly appeared in his headlights.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death, saying there was no evidence that Mr Jury had intended to kill himself.