DRIVER'S DEATH ON M6 SPARKS SAFETY FEARS ON SMART MOTORWAYS

Coroner lists concerns in report to National Highways

- GARY PORTER News Reporter

THE death of a stranded driver who was hit by a lorry on a Midland section of the M6 without a hard shoulder has sparked new fears over smart motorways.

Kevin O’Reilly suffered a large bleed inside the brain months after the collision near junction 12 in Staffordshire.

The 58-year-old’s black Mitsubishi had been stranded in lane three of the north bound carriageway on June 29, 2023, after running out of fuel. It was then struck by a Volvo HGV at 5.51am.

Mr O'Reilly suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent time in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities before a CT scan on February 6 last year revealed he had a fatal bleed on his brain. He died later that day.