Three teenagers and a man in his 50s have died in a collision between a car and a taxi in Bolton, Greater Manchester, police said.
Five injured passengers were also taken to hospital for treatment after the crash on Wigan Road, which took place at about 12.45am on Sunday.
A red Seat Leon collided with a Citroën C4 Picasso taxi, and Greater Manchester police said the driver of the Seat and two passengers, as well as the driver of the Citroën, had died.
Formal identification of the victims was still taking place but it was believed that three teenagers aged between 18 and 19 and a taxi driver in his 50s were among the dead, Ch Insp Helen McCormick said.
She added that the families of those believed to have been fatally injured have been informed and offered specialist support. McCormick said: “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.”
Emergency services, including fire engines and a technical response unit, were called to the scene. A tactical aid unit was spotted at the crash site along with a recovery vehicle.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester fire and rescue service said: “At around 12.50am this morning, three fire engines and the technical response unit attended a crash involving a taxi and a car on Wigan Road, Bolton.
“Firefighters arrived quickly to make the area safe and used cutting equipment to help remove people from the vehicles before passing them into the care of North West ambulance service. Greater Manchester police assisted with cordoning the area. Crews were in attendance for roughly two hours.”
As reported by Bolton News, one resident living near the crash site said the incident happened exactly at 12.44am. They said: “I was texting my partner at the same time when I heard the very loud bang. I heard a woman screaming very loudly, straight after the accident and then a few times afterwards.
“She was a pedestrian who saw the accident happen in front of her eyes and started running in the opposite direction of the accident … The police had to stop and pull her back because she was close to fainting.”
Greater Manchester police are urging anyone with information about what happened to come forward. “This includes anyone who saw the vehicle driving before the collision, witnessed the incident itself, or has dashcam/CCTV footage of the incident,” the force said.
“You can contact the SCIU [Serious Collision Investigation unit] directly on 0161 856 4741, quoting log 111 of 11/01/2026. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”
