Police believe a man who died on the M1 on Friday had killed his wife before jumping from a bridge on to the motorway.
Vincent Nagle was hit and killed by a lorry near Trowell Services on the route in Nottinghamshire at around 11.20am Friday.
Less than half an hour before, his wife Claire Nagle, 38, a student at the University of Nottingham, had been found fatally injured at a house in Borrowash.
Inquests were opened into both deaths on Tuesday, where police revealed brief details of the findings of their initial investigation.
Detective Constable Barry Hall told Derbyshire Coroners Court officers received a 999 call at 10.55am to a house on Charnwood Avenue in the village.
They found Claire lying unconscious on the kitchen floor and started CPR.
Paramedics arrived soon afterwards but were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead in hospital.
As Claire was being treated at around 11.30am Nottinghamshire Police were being called to a report of a suicide on the southbound carriageway of the M1 close to Trowell Services.
Callers told police a man had jumped from a bridge over the road and was killed instantly after being hit by a lorry. Fingerprints later identified the dead man as Claire’s husband Vincent Nagle, 44.
The road was closed in both directions until just after 6pm while police examined and cleared the scene.
Initial results of post mortem examinations suggested Claire had been strangled and a ligature may have been used. Mr Nagle suffered a severe neck injury after falling onto the road but further test results are still due in relation to both deaths.
Police have not said explicitly that they believe Vincent killed Claire, but say “they are not looking for anyone else in connection” with her murder.
A 22-year-old man, found with facial injuries on Charnwood Avenue in Borrowash, raised the alarm on Friday. He is still in hospital and is not being treated as a suspect.
Derbyshire Coroner Dr Robert Hunter opened the inquest into both deaths on Tuesday to try to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
He adjourned both hearings until police reports are fully complete next year, when he will deliver official findings on the deaths.
Claire was studying to become a mental health nurse at the University of Nottingham and had also previously studied at Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University.
Dean of Nottingham Law School, Professor Janine Griffiths-Baker, said: “Claire was a bright and conscientious student. We are very saddened to hear of her death and our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.”
On Monday Claire’s family and staff at the University of Nottingham also paid tribute to her.
