Residents demand road safety action after teenager's hit-and-run death

They want to see the measures installed on Old Road in Ashton after 13-year-old Jack Worwood was struck by a Jaguar car which mounted the kerb as he walked to see friends in Ashton on Tuesday, July 7.

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died the following day.

Now following Jack’s death, residents want action and have approached Bryn councillor Steve Jones calling for something to be done before more lives are lost.

Coun Jones said: “It’s absolutely tragic what has happened with Jack. Residents have come to me wanting to see speed bumps installed along the road as there are no traffic calming measures or cameras and it’s a long and busy road.

“Speeding is a problem on lot of roads in Bryn and Ashton and you get a number of idiots especially at night time.

“People have been wanting something done for a long time to stop things like this happening and before more lives are lost.”

He is due to meet with council bosses and police next week to discuss the issue.

He said: “The ways to prevent speed are to work with the police to take these dangerous drivers off the road and work with the council on bringing in speeding measures. But there’s also a need for motorists to drive sensibly as some people will ignore any signage and traffic calming measures.”

Mark Tilley, assistant director for infrastructure and regulatory services at Wigan Council, urged motorists to drive safely at all times and to always follow speed limits - which he said were there for a reason.

He added: “We are currently looking at whether there are any specific measures we can take on Old Road to improve road safety.”

l Liam Wilson, 21, of Livingstone Street, Ashton-in-Makerfield has been charged with death by dangerous driving and assault by beating of an emergency worker.

He has been remanded in custody by Wigan magistrates until he appears before a Bolton Crown Court judge on August 7.