POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES FOLLOWING A FATAL MOTORWAY COLLISION THIS MORNING.

A Volkswagen Passat was travelling along the M61 when it was involved in a collision with a pedestrian. Just seconds later, a Toyota Avensis was also involved in a collision with the pedestrian.

Both cars stopped at the scene and have been spoken to by officers and no arrests have been made.

Sadly, the pedestrian, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene and enquiries are currently ongoing to identify him.

Road closures were in place for a number of hours but these have now been lifted.

Police Constable Paul Shore of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said:

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“This is an extremely complex investigation as at this time, we do not have a full understanding of the situation prior to the collision.

“If you saw the collision or were in the area after the collision and could provide us with an account of the events, please get in touch with us. You may have also seen a man walking in the area of the M61 or the A580 (East Lancashire Road) around the time of the collision – even if you thought nothing of it at the time, this may help us piece together the circumstances.

“I appreciate that it was in the early hours of the morning and would have been dark but our team at the scene have established that a number of other vehicles may have driven through the collision site.

“If you were driving in the area at the time and may have been one of these vehicles, please contact us as a matter of urgency – you may hold vital evidence.

“While we do not yet know the identity of the man who tragically died at the scene, we are ensuring our enquiries are carried out quickly and sensitively in order to inform his family at the earliest opportunity.”

 

Anyone with information or dashcam footage should contact GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741 quoting reference number 284 of 16/07/17 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.