Durham student killed by lorry on A1

Police are currently appealing for witnesses


A Durham University student was killed on the A1 motorway in Country Durham on Saturday.

The victim, Askar Abilpanov from Kazakhstan, was hit by a lorry at 1.55 am on Saturday morning according to Durham Constabulary.

19-year-old Abilpanov was walking north on the A1(M) close to Bowburn Services when he was hit by the heavy goods vehicle. The collision happened between junctions 60 and 61, near the motorway’s Brownburn turn in.

Police shut the road for eight hours on Saturday whilst an investigation was in process. The reasons for why Abilpanov was walking on the motorway have not been revealed.