Police watchdog called in over walker killed on M62

Electrician Ben Lloyd was struck by a car as he walked along the road near Castleford just after 3.30am on Saturday December 21.

The 24-year-old from Doncaster had reportedly been seen walking on the motorway near to junction 32 and was the subject of three calls to West Yorkshire Police.

Details of the incident and the calls were referred to the IPCC by West Yorkshire Police on December 23 and the watchdog has now decided to launch a full investigation.

The probe will look at what action was taken by West Yorkshire Police and try to determine whether national guidelines and the force’s own policies were correctly followed.

The IPCC has also made contact with Mr Lloyd’s family and met with them to outline the purpose of the investigation, though it is not investigating the collision itself.

IPCC Commissioner for West Yorkshire Cindy Butts said: “My condolences go out to Mr Lloyd’s family during what must be an extremely difficult time for them.

“I would like to stress that our investigation will be thorough and robust, and will determine if there were any failings by West Yorkshire Police.”

An inquest into Mr Lloyd’s death has been opened and adjourned at Wakefield Coroner’s Court. It heard Mr Lloyd was struck by a VW Polo while walking along the middle lane of an unlit section of the motorway. A provisional cause of death was given as multiple injuries.

Mr Lloyd’s mother Jenny, 49, of Womersley near Knottingley, said last week that Mr Lloyd was last seen by his friends at about 1am after a night out in Pontefract.

She said: “There’s a gap until he was found on the M62 headed towards Normanton, away from home.”