A PENSIONER who died in a Boxing Day crash has been named by police.

Darlington man Robert Arthur Henry, 72, died after he was hit by a car on the A1(M) near Scotch Corner on Friday.

Mr Henry was knocked over after climbing out of his broken down vehicle, which had been spewing smoke prior to the fatal accident.

Police believe Mr Henry had pulled over shortly before his death after his red Ford Focus suffered mechanical problems.

At around 7.40am on Boxing Day, Mr Henry and two passengers – a 66-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man – climbed out of the car as it was stopped partially on the verge of the southbound carriageway at junction 56 between Barton and Scotch Corner.

As Mr Henry got out of the car, he was struck by a black Nissan Qashqai driven by a 51-year-old man from Washington.

A silver Peugeot 206 driven by a woman from West Rainton also collided with the Ford Focus but nobody apart from Mr Henry was harmed in the incident.

The stretch of road was closed until 3pm on Boxing Day while police investigated the scene.

An inquest into Mr Henry’s death was opened and adjourned today.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, particularly anybody who recalls seeing the red Ford Focus prior to the accident.

Anyone who can help with the investigation should contact Chris Graham-Marlow from North Yorkshire Police on non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 12140222723 or by email at chris.graham-marlow@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk