Driver dies after his car crashes into wall on lane
ADRIVER died after crashing into a wall on a country lane.
Police say the 38-yearold man from Whitworth - who has not been officially named - suffered fatal injuries in the smash.
It happened in Whitworth at around 4am on Tuesday.
He was travelling in a blue Renault Clio along Whitworth Rake, a rural single track lane from the direction of Lobden Golf Club towards Whitworth, when the incident happened.
He was initially taken to Royal Oldham Hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead soon after arrival.
The passenger in the car, a 35-year-old woman also from Whitworth, also suffered suspected pelvic and rib injuries and was in a stable condition in Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Police say her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Floral tributes have been left at the scene of the crash.
John Kay, of Taylor Street, near to where the tragedy happened, said: “I woke up on Tuesday morning and saw about six or seven police cars parked around here.
“If someone dies on The Rake it comes as a shock, it’s a shock when anyone dies, but I don’t know the full circumstances.”
Customers in the town’s Sportsman pub, on Market Street, where the victim was said to be a regular, said they were shocked by the death.
One told the Observer: “He was a nice fella, just a nice lad really, he’d do owt for anyone.
“A lot of his best mates came in here yesterday. They were all here mourning him. They were all shocked, stunned and extremely upset.”
Sgt Tracey Ward said: “This is a tragic incident where a man has sadly lost his life and a woman has been left with some serious injuries.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this incredibly sad and difficult time.
“If you saw anything or have any information that could help us with our investigation, please get in touch with us by calling 101 and quoting incident reference 191 of November 1.”