"Deadly Dawn Collision: Four Men Killed, Five Injured in Horrific Taxi-Car Crash on Bolton’s Wigan Road – Witnesses Describe ‘Deafening Bang’ and Desperate CPR Attempts"
In the stillness of the early morning, a quiet stretch of Wigan Road in Bolton was shattered by tragedy. Just before 12:45 a.m., a catastrophic head-on collision between a private hire Citroen C4 Picasso taxi and a Seat Leon claimed the lives of four men and left five others fighting for their lives—some receiving desperate roadside CPR as neighbours watched in horror.
The crash, one of the deadliest road incidents in Greater Manchester this year, has left the local community reeling and emergency services piecing together what caused the devastating impact that echoed through residential streets like a thunderclap.
“It Sounded Like an Explosion”
Residents living near the scene described being jolted awake by a “very loud bang”—so violent it rattled windows and sent pets into panic.
“I thought a gas main had blown,” said Sarah Mitchell, who lives just 50 yards from the crash site. “I ran to the window and saw flames, then flashing blue lights coming from every direction. Within minutes, there were paramedics on the ground doing chest compressions on someone lying in the road. It was chaos—screaming, sirens, people crying.”
Another witness, Mark Holloway, recalled seeing emergency crews working tirelessly on multiple casualties. “They were shouting instructions, cutting metal, pulling people out. One man wasn’t moving at all. It was heartbreaking.”
The Victims
While formal identifications are pending next-of-kin notifications, sources confirm that all four deceased were adult males, believed to include both drivers and passengers. The taxi—a licensed private hire vehicle—was reportedly transporting passengers at the time of the collision, though authorities have not yet confirmed whether it was en route to or from a fare.
Of the five injured, three remain in critical condition at Royal Bolton Hospital, including a young woman in her 20s who suffered severe head trauma. Two others are being treated for fractures and internal injuries but are expected to survive.
Police have launched a full investigation, with specialist collision investigators spending hours at the scene examining skid marks, debris fields, and vehicle damage. Early reports suggest excessive speed may have been a factor, though alcohol, drugs, or mechanical failure have not been ruled out.
Community in Mourning
By dawn, floral tributes and candles began appearing at the roadside—a somber vigil for lives cut short in an instant. Local councillor Imran Khan called the crash “a nightmare for our town” and urged anyone with dashcam footage or information to come forward.
“This isn’t just statistics—it’s sons, brothers, friends,” he said, voice heavy with emotion. “Families are waking up to a reality they never imagined. We must find answers so no one else suffers like this.”
Greater Manchester Police have appealed for witnesses, particularly drivers who may have been on Wigan Road between 12:30 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., and asked that any mobile phone footage be shared with investigators.
A Stark Reminder
As forensic teams continue their work and hospitals monitor the injured, the crash serves as a chilling reminder of how quickly ordinary nights can turn tragic. With roads often emptier in the early hours, the temptation to speed increases—but so do the consequences.
Chief Inspector David Reynolds of GMP’s Serious Collision Unit issued a solemn statement:
“Every life lost is a profound tragedy. Our thoughts are with the families enduring unimaginable grief. We are committed to uncovering the full circumstances of this incident—not just for justice, but to prevent future loss.”
For now, Bolton holds its breath—grieving four lives extinguished before sunrise, praying for those clinging to recovery, and searching for meaning in the deafening silence that followed the bang.
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