Heartbreaking tributes were today paid to a "beautiful soul" killed in a suspected hit-and-run crash outside a pub. A woman in her 40s died after being hit by a Land Rover which ploughed into a group of pedestrians on a night out.
Two men were also seriously injured in the smash on pavement outside Fifteens pub in Pemberton, Wigan. Witnesses have told the Manchester Evening News how two young men jumped out of the car after it hit the pedestrians and the wall at 9.20pm on Friday.
Passers-by chased after them and pinned one of them to the ground until police arrived. Two men were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Today floral tributes were left at the scene of the tragedy. One said: "A beautiful soul taken too soon. Thinking of you and your family at this unbelievably sad time."
Another said: "RIP beautiful. Thinking of your family and friends, Gone far too soon. x". One well0wisher wrote: "Thinking of everyone at this sad time. Our sincere thoughts are with you."
And one said: "Rest in peace Beautiful. Thinking of you and all your family. Taken far too soon. Lots of love, sleep tight." One wrote: "RIP sweetheart. Thinking of you and all your family and friends. No-one deserves to go out for a night out and not go home. Heartbroken, all our love."
Ryan Jackson, 27, and Shannon Corbett, 26, live together in a flat directly opposite the pub on the busy road. "I heard an almighty bang and ran to the window and could the lamppost rocking," said Ryan.
"There was a man lying down in the middle of the road and a woman on the pavement. Then we saw two lads jump out of the car and run away down the alley. But some blokes ran after them and pinned one of them to the ground. There were lots of people helping. I'm sure I saw a girl get out of the back of the car and run away."
Local resident Gary Caunter, 54, said the Fifteens pub had been extremely busy since the nearby White Swan had closed for refurbishment. "People congregate outside to smoke and chat," he said. The road is extremely busy. They were just so unlucky that they were there at the point when that car came along and hit them."
Pub owner Tony Callaghan told of his horror after the crash. He said: "Our customers and staff tended to the people who were injured and they were giving first aid to the lady who sadly lost her life.
"I didn't know the lady but I do know she was visiting family for the weekend and wasn't from the area. It's just a very tragic incident."
Meanwhile, the police investigation into the incident is continuing. PC Oliver Batty, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the woman’s family who are understandably devastated by the circumstances of how their loved one has lost their life.
"We immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances and the road has been closed for some time whilst we carried out a number of enquiries. We’re keen to hear from anyone who may have any information or dash-cam footage that may be able to assist with our investigation and give the woman’s family the answers they deserve.
"In particular, anyone who may have seen a silver Land Rover Freelander in the area of Ormskirk Road in the minutes leading up to this incident is urged to contact us. Anyone with information is asked to call 0161 856 4741 or report it online or via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk."
