POLICE have today named the pedestrian killed on the A14 as Dean Potter.The 17-year-old from Hessett near Bury St Edmunds was killed on the dual carriageway at Woolpit at 9.

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By JESSICA NICHOLLS AND MATT ELEY

jessica.nicholls@ecng.co.uk matt.eley@ecng.co.uk

VILLAGERS have been left in shock today as police named the pedestrian killed on the A14 as Dean Potter from Hesset.

People who lived near to Mr Potter's home were too upset to talk about the 17-year-old who was killed on Thursday night at Woolpit.

It is a picture postcard village set in the heart of the Suffolk countryside between Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket with a population of about 500.

The teenager's family were not available to talk about the tragedy.

Around 9.40pm on Thursday, police said several people reported seeing Mr Potter moments before his death and it was believed he may have been jogging in the outside lane of the carriageway.

Desperate attempts were made to prevent the tragedy as witnesses who had seen the victim called Suffolk police to alert them to the situation.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: "I can confirm that just after 9.40pm we received a report of a man who seemed to be walking in the fast lane of the carriageway at Woolpit."

It is still unclear whether Mr Potter had been walking along the carriageway or had got out of a nearby car.

Despite the calls, Mr Potter was hit by a black Mercedes E200 Saloon, driven by a 52-year-old man, and died instantly close to the junction of the A1088.

A maroon Ford Escort was also involved in the accident as it collided with the rear of the Mercedes.

The female driver of the Escort was taken to West Suffolk hospital with leg injuries while the driver of the Mercedes was treated for shock.

The east bound carriageway was closed for two hours following the incident.

Suffolk police are now urging people to make themselves visible when walking along roads at night.

Last year a number of pedestrians were killed when working or walking along major roads like the A12 and A14.

In July, three people were killed in the same week in similar circumstances, including 24-year-old John Minns from Bramford who was working along the A12 when he was fatally hit by a vehicle.

Following that Colin Bartram was killed as he walked along the A14 at Stanton in the early hours of the morning.

Neil Stubbins, aged 22 from Bury St. Edmunds died in the same week as he walked along the A14 at Bury.

Suffolk police are still appealing for witnesses to the crash and anyone with information is asked to call 01473 613500.