Police investigate fatal collision involving a pedestrian on the southbound carriageway

A tragic incident on the M1 near Leicester has resulted in the death of a pedestrian who was struck by a lorry, prompting the closure of the motorway. According to police reports, the collision occurred on the southbound carriageway close to Junction 22, shortly before 03:20 GMT on Friday.

Emergency services, including paramedics, responded to the scene; however, the pedestrian succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead at the location. Following the incident, the M1 was shut down in both directions between junctions 21 and 22. While the northbound carriageway has since reopened, the closure on the southbound side remains in effect.

Leicestershire Police disclosed that prior to the collision, the pedestrian was observed on the bridge in Forest Road and Stoney Lane, Markfield, which has also been closed. Detectives are urging individuals who may have witnessed the events leading up to the incident or possess dashcam footage of the area to come forward and provide assistance to the ongoing investigation.

National Highways has reported increased traffic congestion in the area due to the closure of the M1, and they anticipate that the road closure will persist for several hours. Drivers are advised to either avoid the southbound carriageway or allocate additional time for their journeys to account for potential delays.