A WOMAN was killed when a car collided with her as she tried to walk across the motorway after a row with her boyfriend.

And police today revealed that Tracy Wilding's boyfriend drove home alone after seeing traffic slow down and assuming she had been given a lift -and was only told about the tragedy by officers later last night.

Police said Tracy, 41, of Reeth Way, Spring Hill, Accrington, was a passenger in her boyfriend's car when they had an argument as they drove towards Preston on the M55.

Her boyfriend, 47-year-old Charles Bates, of Blackpool Street, Church, stopped on the hard shoulder near the Kirkham turn-off and Ms Wilding got out.

She crossed over to the central reservation and carried on walking towards Preston, then tried to cross back to the hard shoulder.

She was hit as she crossed the nearside lane by a blue Vauxhall Corsa, driven by 19-year-old Kathryn Seymour at 7pm yesterday.

Miss Seymour and her passenger, 82-year-old Annie Webster, both of Bury, were also slightly injured and taken to Preston Royal Infirmary.

Mr Bates later told police he had seen traffic slowing down and assumed Ms Wilding had got a lift, and so he drove on.

Police are asking witnesses who saw the accident involving the M-registered Vauxhall Corsa, or saw Mr Bates' Ford Mondeo, to call them on 01772 618284 quoting log 265QQ/010300.

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