A very sad incident indeed, and just emphasises what the police always say; the hard shoulder of a motorway is the most dangerous place to be.
Something I found out personally at 0105 approx. on the 25th December 2005!!

It most certainly is!! I used to work in the breakdown/recovery industry, down south covering a large section of M25 & M4 - and believe you me...the sights I used to see

!!! in fact over the years, i knew a couple of guys that got wiped out on the M4

I actually had on one occasion, attending a breakdown on the M4, was about to get in drivers door when I heard VERY loud and Fast approaching rumble strip ddrrrrrrrrrrrrrr noise; i looked up and an artic was heading straight for us !!!

- i had previously ( as always, ) told the driver to get into my cab to relative safety, while i just managed to dive clear !!!! ..... watching the artic NARROWLY missing the car, but taking CLEAN off the drivers mirror and arm, off my truck !!! - this obviously startled the lorry driver as he corrected/swerved back onto the lane, AND CARRIED ON!! (TOS**R) pphheeeeeewwww.....

that was scary!!