Police investigate claims bus drove on after hitting woman on M74

AN INVESTIGATION was launched today into claims that a coach failed to stop after hitting a woman who had fallen from a motorway bridge.

The 45-year-old died after plunging from the footbridge onto the M74 in Lanarkshire on Saturday night.

She is believed to have been hit by the London-bound Megabus service shortly after it left Glasgow. The bus did not stop until it reached Preston in Lancashire several hours later.

Police and the bus firm have both launched investigations into the incident following reports that passengers were aware that the bus had hit an object on the road half an hour after it left Glasgow.

Strathclyde Police today issued an appeal for information following the death of the woman near junction nine of the M74 at Blackwood at around 11.30pm.

Inspector Keith Prentice, from Motherwell road policing unit, appealed for motorists who were in the area at the time to come forward.

He said: "As enquiries are continuing into the death, it is important that we speak to anyone who was travelling on the M74 around 11.30pm on Saturday night as they may have important information which will be able to help us.

"We would urge drivers and their passengers to contact Motherwell Road Policing Department on 01698 483000."

A spokeswoman for megabus.com said: "Our immediate thoughts are with the family of the person who has died at what must be an extremely distressing time.

"We are assisting police with their inquiries and have also launched our own investigation into the matter."