Police have confirmed that a man died following a collision on the M1 in Leicestershire yesterday afternoon.
The man was driving a blue Renault Clio, which stopped on the hard shoulder of the southbound carriageway between junctions 20 and 21.
It is believed he got out of the vehicle and was then involved in a collision with a lorry.
The incident happened near Lutterworth at about 2pm.
Officers said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Formal identification is expected to take place later today or tomorrow.
Detective Sergeant Mark Watling, from Leicestershire police's serious collision unit, said: "We are appealing for witnesses who were on the M1 yesterday and who may have seen the incident itself or who may recall seeing either of the vehicles prior to the incident to contact us."
The incident involved the victim's Clio and a white Mercedes Benz HGV.
It caused traffic chaos across the city and county.
A section of the southbound carriageway between junction 21, near Fosse Park, and junction 20, at Lutterworth, was shut for almost five hours as emergency services dealt with the incident.
Drivers were advised to avoid the M1 southbound altogether as tailbacks led to major congestion around Fosse Park, while the chaos spread into the city and on some county roads as the congestion turned to rush-hour gridlock.
Eye-witnesses said it was obviously a serious incident. One told the Mercury: "There was a car on the hard shoulder opposite, where it looks as if the impact took place. A green tarpaulin was erected around something lying on the edge of the carriageway.
"Yellow marks had been put on the road near the car, leading towards where the tarpaulin was lying."
A spokesman for the fire service said firefighters were not called upon to help at the incident, but a later request came to provide a salvage sheet to screen the crash from the public.
Routes on to the Everard's roundabout at Fosse Park, Narborough Road, the M1 and Lubbesthorpe Way were completely clogged up by about 5.30pm, with tailbacks stretching into the city centre and along the A46, the A50 to the west and north of Leicester and along the A5 in the south and south west of the county.
Det Sgt Watling said: "Diversions were put in place and we apologise to anyone who may have been caught up in the tailbacks, but the closure was necessary to allow officers to carry out a full investigation at the scene."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact DS Watling on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.
