11 May 2011 Last updated at 07:27 ET

Woman knocked down and killed on M80 named

Joanne Nichol left the car she was travelling in after an argument

A 22-year-old woman who died after being hit by a vehicle on a motorway has been named by police.

Joanne Nichol, from Cumbernauld, was a passenger in a car on the M80 near Dennyloanhead, Falkirk, but got out after arguing with the driver.

She was later hit by a vehicle on the southbound carriageway in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Central Scotland Police said Miss Nichol was being driven home after going for drinks after work.

She refused to get back into the car after the argument.

The driver lost sight of her and when he returned to the area where she had left the car - near the M876 junction - the emergency services were already there.

Police have appealed to anyone who was driving along the M80 between 0030 BST and 0115 BST to contact them.

They also want to speak to people who saw a silver Vauxhall Astra stopped on the motorway.