CCTV footage shows the moment two cars collided in a head-on crash which killed three teenagers and a taxi driver in Bolton.
The fatal smash, which involved a Citroen C4 Picasso private hire vehicle and a Seat Leon, happened at around 12.45am on Wigan Road on Sunday morning.
Three teenagers – two aged 18 and one aged 19 – inside the red Seat were killed, as well as a man in his 50’s, believed to be the taxi driver.
The deceased were identified as Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, Farhan Patel and Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, all of Bolton, although formal identification is yet to take place.
Mosrab Ali, of Blackburn, who is understood to be the taxi driver, was also named as one of those killed.
Distressing CCTV captured at a nearby property appears to show the Seat travelling at high speed on the wrong side of the 30mph road.
The taxi is seen moving along the street when it is met head-on with the Seat, which smashes into it at force.
After the impact, the Seat can be seen spinning across the carriageway, sending debris flying, before hitting a parked car and coming to a stop.
Footage from CCTV cameras of a nearby property show the Picasso taxi (back left) travelling along Wigan Road in Bolton just before the collision
The point of impact (right) between the two cars appears to show the Seat travelling on the wrong side of the road at speed
The Citroen Picasso, removed from the scene on Wigan Road on Sunday morning, was very badly damaged in the crash
Another five passengers were taken to hospital, where they are being treated.
Residents reported hearing a ‘very loud bang’ and seeing emergency services performing CPR on injured passengers on the roadside.
On Sunday afternoon the names of the teenagers and the taxi driver were released by Bolton Council of Mosques, who asked people to pray for their families.
A letter from BCoM’s executive team, also tweeted on X, said the mosque was ‘closely supporting’ relatives and liaising with the appropriate authorities.
The road was closed for more than 14 hours by officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit before being re-opened around 3.15pm.
Both vehicles, which suffered extensive damage, were removed from the scene.
Speaking from the collision site on Sunday afternoon Chief Inspector Helen McCormack, of Greater Manchester Police, said emergency crews were faced with a ‘challenging scene.’
‘This was a devastating incident for all those involved, none more so than the families of the deceased,’ she said.
‘This is a tragic reminder of the importance of safety on our roads across Greater Manchester, and here in Bolton, where plenty of work has been done and continues to try and ensure our roads are safe for all.
Four people died and five others were injured in the accident in Bolton just before 1am on Sunday morning
‘We have massively reduced the number of serious and fatal collisions in Bolton and significantly increased our proactivity, but we’ve all got much more to do.
‘One incident is one too many and will do nothing to bring back the four lives lost here today.
‘My thoughts are with everyone affected.’
Ms McCormack confirmed officers were aware of a Snapchat video taken before the crash, which showed a car travelling at 120mph, but said they had yet to establish whether it was connected to the accident.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said they sent three appliances to the crash and firefighters spent around two hours cutting the injured passengers from the cars before they were taken to hospital.
One local, who said the Seat came to rest after crashing into his wife’s red Peugeot, which was parked outside their home, said the main thoroughfare was plagued with speeding motorists and crashes were common.
He said he’d previously called to the council to install speed control measures, such as speed bumps.
‘The other car was travelling on the wrong side of the road and it’s gone straight into the taxi,’ he said.
‘The other car has spun over to the other side of the road and hit my wife’s car.
Another image showed the mangled bonnet and engine of the Picasso as it was loaded onto a recovery truck
Chief Inspector Helen McCormack, of Greater Manchester Police, spoke to reporters at the scene of the crash. She said it was a ‘devastating incident for all those involved’
‘There was debris all over the road.’
The man’s sister, who also lives nearby, said she was woken by a loud bang.
‘It was chaos,’ she said.
‘Both cars were badly smashed up.
‘Emergency services arrived very quickly and I could see paramedics performing CPR on injured people.
‘Firefighters also had to cut people out of the red car. It was a pretty horrific scene.’
She said she’d also called on the council to install speed bumps, adding: ‘It shouldn’t take four fatalities before they do something.
‘I’m not saying it would have stopped this crash but there are crashes on this road all the time.
‘My car, which was parked outside, had to be written off after one smash.’
Another local said: ‘I saw the taxi driver’s passenger, a woman, get out the taxi and there were two other people who were in the taxi unconscious.’
Green Party Councillor Hanif Alli also said: ‘This is such a needless, tragic, loss of life and we, like many others, are in shock at the severity of the crash.’
Earlier, rumours circulating on social media that the crash was the result of a police chase, were quickly debunked by local politicians.
Councillor Ayyub Patel, who represents Rumworth ward, said: ‘I have spoken directly with officers, who have confirmed that no police or other authorities were involved.
‘This was an unfortunate and deeply distressing incident, resulting in fatalities and a number of injuries.
‘My heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones affected, and my thoughts remain with all those impacted.
‘I ask the community to allow the investigation to proceed and to avoid speculation during this difficult time.’
A spokesman for GMP said: ‘At around 12.45am, officers attended Wigan Road, Bolton where a red Seat Leon was travelling down the road and collided with a Citroen C4 Picasso.
‘The driver of the Seat, and two passengers have tragically died following the collision.
‘The driver of the Citroen was also sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Five injured passengers have been taken to hospital, where they are currently being treated.
‘A scene is still in place at this time as officers continue their investigation.’
Officers appealed for anyone who witnessed the Seat before the collision, the crash itself or anyone with dashcam or CCTV of the incident to get in touch directly on 0161 856 4741, quoting log 111, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
