Chief Supt Mark Dexter asks drivers to think about the safety of their driving this Christmas week
We’re issuing a plea to road users to think about the consequences of their actions this week after six fatal collisions over the course of this weekend in the lead-up to Christmas.
Officers from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit are investigating a series of tragic incidents across Greater Manchester that included the death of a 10-year-old child.
The latest fatality was a cyclist on Centenary Way in the early hours of this morning.
A further arrest has been made since the weekend, in relation an incident on Edenfield Road in Rochdale yesterday (Sunday 19 December), which saw a woman – believed to be in her 60s – pronounced dead at the scene.
A man in his 20s presented himself at a police station in Bury earlier today and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Each of the six families who have received the traumatic news are being supported by specially-trained officers, and our thoughts are with them at this excruciating time.
Chief Superintedent Mark Dexter, of our Specialist Operations Unit that oversees road policing, has asked for road users to be considerate of one another to avoid any other dreadful incidents – especially in the build up to Christmas.
He said: “This weekend has been a terrible one for so many people after a number of serious incidents on our roads in the week before Christmas.
Between Friday and the early hours of Monday, our officers responded to six fatalities across Greater Manchester – including 10 year old child. Our thoughts are clearly with the families and friends of those that have died this weekend
“That’s six families that our officers had to give this most traumatic news to, and seven families who will be lost without a loved one just days before Christmas – a time of year that should be full of joy.
“All of these incidents remain subject to ongoing investigations, and we have a specialist officers dedicated to supporting the families of all those that tragically lost their lives this weekend.
“One fatality on the roads of Greater Manchester is one too many, and I urge people getting behind the wheel this week to think about each of those six families and how your actions could result in another family having to suffer.
“If you have any information about any of the incidents over the weekend, then please call our Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741. Thank you.”
