Man hit by van on motorway seriously injured

The pedestrian suffered serious injuries in the collision, West Midlands Ambulance Service said

A man walking along the M40 has been seriously injured in a hit-and-run, police said.

The man was left unconscious after being hit by a van on the southbound carriageway near Ashorne in Warwickshire at 02:05 GMT on Friday.

He is being treated for head injuries at University Hospital in Coventry.

The white panel van which reportedly struck the man did not stop and police are now appealing for witnesses.

Warwickshire Police said they were initially called to reports of a disturbance at the nearby motorway services at around 01:38 GMT.

They arrived moments later to find that a man had started to walk southbound on the motorway.

He had reached a point between the Barnhill services and junction 12 when a van hit him and left him unconscious.

Officers managed to get the man to safety and delivered first aid at the scene while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

A nine-mile section of the M40 was closed for around five hours, reopening just before 07:30.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor were sent to the scene with the first resource arriving in five minutes.

"The pedestrian, a man, was treated by ambulance crews for serious injuries before being taken on blue lights to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire for further treatment."

Warwickshire Police want to speak to the driver of a light-coloured car, possibly an Audi, who swerved to avoid the man.

The force added: "As is routine when police are in attendance at the time of such a serious incident, it was referred to our professional standards department who have made a referral to the IOPC (Independent Office of Police Conduct)."