Safety plea as car ploughs into wall

Stella Blackledge outside her home at the scene of an incident where a car hit the wall

Witness have described how a black Peugeot 206 smashed into a lamppost and garden wall in Park Road, Wigan, shortly after 3.30pm on Sunday.

It has been alleged that three men got out the car and ran off.

Police are now investigating the incident and trying to locate the three men in the car. Anyone with information should call the police on 101.

The aftermath of the accident caught on film

One man, who did not wish to be named, was walking on the footpath with his young son in a pram when the car narrowly missed him.

He said: “Three white men in the car took the corner far too fast, lost control then mounted the curb. They got out the car and took off down Park Road towards the Pagefield pub.

“The crash buckled two wheel, ripped the exhaust off and mounted some bricks from the wall.”

Part of the wall belonged to Stella Blackledge, 38, who was heard the crash from inside her house.

She said: “I heard an almighty crash and when I went to my window I saw the car had hit the front gate.

“Three men were seen running away and a resident managed to stop one of them but he wriggled free and ran off.

“We are lucky the car didn’t hit anyone as it narrowly missed a man with his young son.”

The safety issue in Park Road and Parsons Walk has been a long standing concern, with residents noting other collisions along the busy stretch.

In June 2014, 18-year-old Charlotte Melling, of Scholes, died as her Yamaha bike hit on oncoming car as she overtook a vehicle on the bend of Park Road.

Wigan Central councillors have been working alongside the councils traffic management team and Greater Manchester Police for a solution and have requested a speed activated sign.

Coun George Davies said: “We have Mesnes Park entrances and The Thomas Linacre NHS patients near by, so the activated flashing sign must be met and more safety measures put in for pedestrian safety. It is also about education as we urge everyone to slow down especially near nurseries, schools, hospitals, and parks.”