A ‘DISORIENTATED’ mother-of-one died after discharging herself from hospital and walking down the M65 into the path of traffic.

Police are trying to piece together how Patsy Anne Toomey, from Burnley, ended up four miles from the Royal Blackburn Hospital before she was hit by a car.

Ms Toomey was spotted behaving in a ‘disorientated’ way, walking along the inside lane of the motorway moments before she was struck between junction three, Withnell, and junction four, Darwen, police said.

Officers revealed Ms Toomey had been taken ill outside the Britannia Inn pub, Oxford Road, Burnley, at 4.30pm on Sunday.

The landlord called an ambulance and Ms Toomey, who has a 14-year-old son, was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

However police said that shortly after she discharged herself. At 7.20pm she suffered multiple injuries after being struck by the car, which was driven by a 67-year-old man from Rawtenstall.

Police said he was not being investigated over the crash. He and his wife, who was a passenger, have been left traumatised by the crash.

It is not known if Ms Toomey walked along the motorway from junction five or if she made her way to junction four by another route. Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Yesterday Ms Toomey’s family in the Oxford Road area of Burnley said they were too upset to speak about the incident.

Friends described her as a “lovely person”.

Steve Gwilt, the owner of the Britannia Inn, Oxford Rd, Burnley, said his customers spotted Ms Toomey near his pub. He said: “It looked like she had a fit. I know Patsy. I saw her around quite a bit and she was a really nice lass.

“The incident at the motorway is such a shame, such a waste of a life.”

Val Bertenshaw, director of operations for East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust, said: “The trust would like to offer our condolences to the family.

“We are unable to comment on an individual’s details and if the family wishes to contact us we can discuss the care given.”

The motorway was closed for two hours after the incident while investigations took place.

Anyone with information should call motorway police on 01772 410465.