A STUDENT died when he was struck by a lorry as walked along motorway after getting off his bus at the wrong stop in a disoriented state, in inquest was told.

Askar Abilpanov, a Durham University student from Kazakhstan, had been out drinking earlier with friends at the Russian Speaking Society, in Durham.

The nineteen-year-old died when he was hit by a heavy goods vehicle on the northbound carriageway of the A1(M)near the Durham Services at Bowburn, at 1.55am on Saturday, November 11, last year.

Police accident investigator Sergeant Peter Tate told a hearing at Crook Coroners’ Court yesterday, that after Mr Abilpanov had spent an evening out, his friends had taken him to a bus stop. They put him on the bus to return to his university campus in Stockton.

Mr Abilpanov fell asleep on the bus and woke up disorientated, the hearing was told.

As he got off the bus he took out his mobile phone to check Google maps for directions and it is believed he may have followed a route intended for motorists, which is probably why he was walking on the inside lane of the of the northbound carriageway when he was struck.

County Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle ruled that the student, who had been in the country for two years, had died as a result of a road traffic accident.

Mr Tweddle said: “I think alcohol played a substantial part in him being disorientated and him ending up where he was.”

He added that no blame could be levelled at the lorry driver.

Mr Tweddle said: “By the time he saw him the collision was inevitable.”