Crash driver hunt as woman fights for life
A WOMAN was fighting for her life in hospital and two other women were seriously injured after a horror car smash.
All three, aged in their early 30s, were in a private-hire taxi which was involved in a collision with a blue Ford Focus in Bolton in the early hours of yesterday.
The Focus was seen ‘driving erratically’ earlier around the Trinity Way and Bridgeman Street areas of the town.
Police said all three women received ‘serious’ injuries. One remains in a critical condition in hospital, a GMP spokesman said last night. Pc Paul Shore said: “My thoughts are with the three women who were in the taxi and their families. It is heart-breaking when innocent people are caught up in collisions in this way.
“It is vital that the driver hands himself in to police as soon as possible.
“They know who they are, and they know it is the right thing to do.”
Police said the Focus was spotted being driven erratically at around 3am yesterday.
The collision with the taxi – a white Peugeot E7 – was reported around 10 minutes later.
It happened on Bradford Street just outside the town centre as the taxi was turning onto the slip road towards the A666 St Peter’s Way. The taxi driver, a 44-year-old man, escaped with minor injuries.
A police spokesman said: “The driver of the Ford Focus was then seen abandoning the car and leaving the scene on foot.
“All three passengers, three women in their early 30s, received serious injuries, with one in a critical condition.”
The scene was closed by police for accident investigation work but all roads reopened yesterday.
Pc Shore issued an appeal for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
He added: “I would urge anyone with information about what happened or who believes they know who the driver of the Ford Focus is to come forward to police to help the investigation.
“We would also like to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the blue Ford Focus in the Trinity Way and Bridgeman Street areas of Bolton, before the collision happened.”
Call police on 101, Crimestoppers 0800 555111 or GMP’s Serious Collision Unit on 0161 856 4741.