POLICE issued a renewed appeal this week in the hope of shedding light on a mysterious death that happened almost exactly one year ago. Essex Police are hoping that they will receive information from the public that helps them establish exactly what happe

POLICE issued a renewed appeal this week in the hope of shedding light on a mysterious death that happened almost exactly one year ago.

Essex Police are hoping that they will receive information from the public that helps them establish exactly what happened to Michal Droppa, who was apparently killed after being hit by a car on the M11 in the early hours of Monday June 11, 2007.

An inquest into Mr Droppa's death is taking place on the one-year anniversary of the collision, but police are yet to track down the driver of the car they believe collided with the Slovakian national.

A police spokesman said: "Michal was knocked down as he walked south on the M11 motorway between Stansted and Harlow. He had been living in the Brighton area for 18 months and was booked on the 6.25am flight from Stansted to Slovakia on Sunday June 10, 2007, to return to his home in Dolny Kubin, but missed his flight.

"He then booked into Day's hotel at Birchanger services on Sunday night, but his room appears not to have been occupied. Enquiries have revealed that Michal closed his bank account in Brighton and would have had about £1800 in cash on him.

"He may have dropped the cash at Birchanger services as it was later found and handed in, and this may be why he missed his flight."

At 2am on June 11 last year, a motorist contacted the police to report a man walking on the hard shoulder of the southbound carriageway of the motorway. Highways Agency traffic officers attempted to locate the man and pulled up in front of a single-decker National Express coach, which had stopped 100 yards after sighting the man to see if he needed help.

The coach driver and Highways officers attempted to find the walking man, and discovered him lying seriously injured in lane one of the motorway.

He was taken to Queen's Hospital in Romford, where he was joined by his parents and girlfriend, who had flown in from Slovakia. Mr Droppa died shortly afterwards.

Sgt Dave Jones appealed to the public to help police help Mr Droppa's family by establishing more detailed facts surrounding his death.

He said: "It is now almost a year from the collision that led to Michal's death. We owe it to his family to discover what he was doing walking on the M11 and what happened in the moments leading up to the fateful collision.

"I ask all motorway users to cast their mind back to that day last year, and try to remember anything that may allow us to bring closure for Michal's family."

Anyone with any information about the collision, or Michal's movements in the Stansted area, is asked to contact police on 0300 333 4444.