Four people, including three teenagers, were killed in a devastating head-on collision between a car and a taxi in Bolton, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed. Five other passengers were injured in the crash, which occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday.
The collision happened at around 00:45 on Wigan Road, a stretch residents say has seen multiple serious accidents in recent years. Police said the taxi driver, travelling in a dark-coloured Citroen, and the driver of a red Seat were both among those who died at the scene.
The three teenagers killed in the crash were aged between 18 and 19. They have been named in local funeral notices as Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, Farhan Patel and Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, all from Bolton.
The taxi driver was named as Masrob Ali, a man in his 50s from Blackburn. Formal identification of the victims is still ongoing.
Emergency services, including police, fire crews and paramedics, attended what officers described as a “particularly challenging scene.” Firefighters used cutting equipment to free people trapped inside the vehicles, while five injured passengers were taken to hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not been described as life-threatening.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash and have appealed for witnesses. GMP has urged anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have dashcam footage from before or after the collision to come forward.
Chief Inspector Helen McCormick of GMP described the incident as “devastating” and offered her thanks to emergency responders. “This was a tragic reminder of the importance of safety on our roads,” she said. “While serious and fatal collisions in Bolton have reduced significantly, one incident is one too many.”
Local residents expressed shock and distress at the incident. Neelam Khan, who lives nearby, told BBC North West Tonight she saw the aftermath of the crash. “The debris was everywhere. It was quite disturbing and scary,” she said, adding that crashes on the road were not uncommon.
Ms Khan said she and her husband now park their car at the back of their house due to safety fears and are considering moving away. “I don’t understand how people don’t learn from previous accidents,” she said. “If nothing changes, it’s probably going to get worse.”
Councillor Ayyub Patel, who represents the Rumworth ward, said the local community had woken up to “very sad news.” He described the mood as sombre, adding that the victims’ families were devastated by the sudden loss.
Police investigations are ongoing as tributes continue to be paid to those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
