Police have asked for witnesses to a tragedy on the A38 last night to come forward.

Police were notified of an unhappy looking man sat on the railings of Honicknowle Lane Overbridge across the A38 at about 10pm.

It was dark and the area of the A38 was unlit.

When police arrived ten minutes later, the man was on the correct side of the railings and an officer walked towards him.

But the man then leapt from the bridge, falling ten metres onto the westbound A38 carriageway below.

He was then struck by a number of passing vehicles.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics shortly afterwards.

The road was closed and a forensic examination of the scene took place.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the tragedty to contact them on 101 quoting log number 1228 07/07/2018.