Witnesses have spoken of their horror after a Land Rover car ploughed into a group of pedestrians, killing a woman in her 40s.
The horrific scenes unfolded outside the Fifteens bar in Ormskirk Road in the Pemberton area of Wigan last night. After two young men were seen jumping out of the car, others chased after one pinning him to the ground until the police arrived, witnesses said.
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.
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"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."
Shannon said: "The police arrived really quickly, followed by the fire brigade and then the ambulance. It's really said that the woman didn't make it. She had three kids, we're told."
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."
Apart from the woman who died, two other male pedestrians were also seriously injured, police said. 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."
