Traffic chaos as 28-year-old man dies after running from taxi in motorway horror on outskirts of Edinburgh TENS of thousands were stuck in a huge traffic jam when the M8 was closed just outside Edinburgh for 10 hours after the death of 28-year-old Murray D'Angelo. A MAN died after he got out of a taxi and ran along the carriageway of Scotland’s busiest motorway early yesterday.
The M8 was closed for 10 hours just outside Edinburgh afterwards causing huge jams on Scotland’s busiest road on one of the busiest days of the year.
Tens of thousands of shoppers, travellers and football fans were affected by tailbacks lasting hours.
The incident began around 6.15am when the 28-year-old passenger, who’d been travelling in a taxi with two friends, and the driver left the vehicle after it stopped by the roadside.
The passenger - who was named last night as Murray D'Angelo - was hit within seconds by two passing cars travelling westbound in pitch black conditions on the rain-swept motorway.
A source said: “There were three male passengers in the taxi. The driver stopped on the carriageway and left the car, as has one of the passengers.
“Unfortunately the passenger has been hit shortly after by two further passing cars and killed instantly.”
The driver was unhurt. The two other passengers left the scene and police were trying to trace them last night.
Officers shut the westbound carriageway, with the road closed in both directions from around lunchtime.
The taxi could be seen abandoned between the hard shoulder and inside carriageway yesterday as road traffic officers and scenes-of-crime staff began investigating.
Teams of police were seen searching undergrowth on the motorway embankment.
Officers were also spotted combing fields nearby.
One onlooker said: “They seemed to be searching some distance from the scene of the accident. It wasn’t a fingertip search – but they were obviously looking for something.”
The incident happened between Junction 1, Hermiston Gait, and Junction 2, Claylands, of the M8 just west of Edinburgh.
The road closure led to massive congestion on the feeder roads across the area, including Edinburgh city bypass.
A spokesman from Edinburgh’s Gyle Shopping Centre, just a mile from the crash scene, said: “Although we had a number of customers in the centre today, we were aware there were far fewer than there have been in previous weekends.
“As there has been no access to the by-pass for most of the day, we believe this has affected the number of people who have been able to get access to the centre.”
Many shoppers took to the train to avoid congestion and a ScotRail spokesman yesterday reported busy traffic on the Edinburgh to Glasgow line.
A spokesman for Edinburgh airport added: “We are aware of problems on the M8 although we are not aware of any instances of people missing flights.”
Fans travelling to Tynecastle for the Hearts v Queen of the South game were also delayed although a Hearts spokesman reported no major problems.
Another road user said: “It was utter chaos. People were trying to use back roads and alternative routes – but these became packed.
“It was a real bad one, especially in the bleak weather and in the run-up to Christmas.”
Chief Inspector Stevie Dolan said last night: “I’d like to thank the public for their patience while the M8 was closed to allow us to carry out our investigation.
“To help us piece together the circumstances, anyone who witnessed this collision or has information which can assist our enquiries is urged to contact Police on 101.”
The taxi involved, a 2009 red Skoda Octavia 1.9 diesel, bore Edinburgh City Private Hire markings. No one from the firm was available for comment. A Police spokeswoman added: “Officers in Edinburgh responded to a serious road collision on the M8 between Hermiston and Gogar involving a pedestrian and two vehicles.
“The incident happened around 6.15am when a man who had been travelling in a taxi with two other passengers exited the vehicle and was struck by two vehicles travelling westbound.
“Emergency services attended but the 28-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Two men who were within a taxi at the time have left the scene and we are now appealing for them to come forward.
“The M8 was closed in both directions while police carried out an investigation to establish the circumstances and police are now appealing for witnesses.”
A spokeswoman for motorway operators Amey said: “We were made aware of a police incident at around 6.30am and the road was partially closed.
“Full closure in both directions was in place just before noon between junctions 1 and 2.”
source:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scott ... es-4762866
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