TRIBUTES have been paid to a County Durham doctor who was killed on the A19 last week.

Colleagues were shocked by news of the death of Dr John Zuk, described as "highly valued and respected".

Dr Zuk, 42, of Durham City, a pathologist at the city's University Hospital of North Durham, died when he was hit by a lorry while trying to cross the busy trunk road near Doxford Business Park, at Sunderland, on Thursday.

Four other people were hurt as a car crashed into the back of the lorry.

Traffic police from the Northumbria force are trying to find out exactly how the accident happened.

Dr Zuk, formerly of Dundee, was one of three pathologists at University Hospital and had worked there and at its predecessor, Dryburn Hospital, for ten years.

As a pathologist, he investigated the causes of people's deaths and produced reports and gave evidence at inquests held by the North Durham coroner.

The coroner, Andrew Tweddle, said: "His death has come as a shock. I worked with him very well and I thought very highly of him. He will be sorely missed.''

John Saxby, chief executive of the County Durham Acute Hospitals Trust, said: "Colleagues at the trust are numb at the news.

"John Zuk was a highly valued and respected doctor who had worked in North Durham for ten years.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.''

Dr Zuk leaves a widow and two daughters. His funeral will be held tomorrow at 2pm in Durham Crematorium.

The tragedy happened shortly before 2.30pm on the southbound carriageway of the A19.

Dr Zuk is believed to have died instantly when he was hit by a truck which braked, and was itself hit by a Vauxhall Astra.

Three men in the car were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital suffering from serious injuries.

The road was closed for more than four hours.

An inquest into Dr Zuk's death will be held by the Sunderland coroner.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call 0191-454 7555, ext 66391.