POLICE have named a man who died after being hit by a car in Durham City late last night (Thursday, March 20).

Investigators from Durham Constabulary believe Andrew Cook, 34, of Garden Lane, Durham City, was lying on the road when he was struck and fatally injured.

Police were tonight seeking to help Mr Cook’s family come to terms with their tragic loss.

At the same time, they are also appealing for information so they can piece together what happened.

One potential witness praised a man and a woman who came to Mr Cook’s aid after the smash.

On The Northern Echo’s website, they wrote: “The response of the individuals who helped in the aftermath was commendable.

“In particularly the lady and gentleman who were first to the scene and did what they could to try and resuscitate the man; very brave and calm in such extreme circumstances.

“The road is lit on one side by street lights and there isn’t much pavement on the side where it happened due to parked cars. (My) Thoughts go out to those affected.”

Mr Cook was struck by a Vauxhall Corsa car being driven north towards the New Inn traffic lights on South Road, Durham City, shortly before 10.30pm last night.

The crash happened in an area known as Southend, near the junction with Elvet Hill Road.

The Corsa driver, a 31-year-old woman from Sunniside, and her passenger, a 36-year-old man from Bishop Auckland, both escaped unhurt from the collision.

In a statement, a Durham Police spokeswoman said: “Investigators are appealing for anyone who saw the collision or has any information about it to contact them directly on 0191-375-2159 or ring 101 and ask for the road policing unit.”

Only two days before the crash, pupils from Durham High School for Girls had been helping police monitor South Road in an effort to improve safety following another incident, in which a male jogger was knocked down outside the school, half a mile south. But police have given no indication Mr Cook’s death was due to speeding.