In the early hours of Sunday, January 11, 2026, a devastating head-on collision on Wigan Road in Bolton, Greater Manchester, claimed the lives of four people and left five others injured, sending shockwaves through the local community and reigniting concerns over road safety in the area.
According to reports from Sky News, BBC News, The Independent, and the Manchester Evening News, the crash occurred at approximately 12:45am when a red Seat Leon, carrying three teenagers, collided with a Citroen C4 Picasso taxi driven by a man in his fifties. The impact was so severe that all four individuals—the driver and two passengers in the Seat, and the taxi driver—were pronounced dead at the scene. Five other passengers, whose identities and conditions remain undisclosed, were rushed to hospital for treatment.
Chief Inspector Helen McCormick of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) addressed reporters at the crash site later that day, describing the incident as "devastating" and extending her condolences to the families affected. “It is with great sadness that I can confirm that in the early hours of this morning, four people tragically died in a collision here on Wigan Road. They are believed to be three teenagers, aged 18 and 19, and a taxi driver in his 50s,” she stated, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News. McCormick added, “This was a particularly challenging scene for colleagues in the emergency services, and I want to thank first responders from our Bolton district and road policing unit of GMP, as well as the fire service and ambulance service, for all their hard work through the night and into today.”
Emergency services responded swiftly to the incident. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service told The Independent, “At around 12.50am this morning, three fire engines and the technical response unit attended a crash involving a taxi and a car on Wigan Road, Bolton. Firefighters arrived quickly to make the area safe and used cutting equipment to help remove people from the vehicles before passing them into the care of North West Ambulance Service. Greater Manchester Police assisted with cordoning the area. Crews were in attendance for roughly two hours.”
Residents living near the scene recounted being jolted awake by the sound of a “loud bang” just before 1am. One local woman, who spoke with Sky News, described seeing “quite a bit of debris” on the road and a red car that was “really damaged.” Another resident told BBC News that debris was “everywhere, which was quite scary.” The crash, understood to have been a head-on collision, left a trail of wreckage and prompted a large emergency response.
The aftermath of the crash has left the community in mourning. Councillor Ayyub Patel of Bolton Council expressed the collective grief, telling Sky News, “The incredibly tragic incident had left the whole community devastated.” He continued, “Any loss of life in any family is devastating news and to wake up to such tragic news is more so than expected. If it's expected, you know what's coming but if it's not expected, then obviously it's a shocking experience.” Patel urged the public to “avoid speculation and allow the investigation to take its proper course.”
The Bolton Council of Mosques (BCOM) also issued a statement, reported by The Independent and the Manchester Evening News, saying, “BCOM is very sad to announce that there was a tragic accident early hours in the morning and the subsequent loss of four young lives. BCOM is closely supporting the families and liaising with the relevant authorities. The authorities are professionally, expediently and empathetically dealing with all the necessary issues. It is anticipated that details of the burial will be announced as soon as possible. Please make dua for the deceased and their families and allow them privacy.”
Formal identification of the victims is ongoing, but authorities have confirmed the deceased are three teenagers (two aged 18 and one aged 19) and a man in his fifties, the latter believed to be the taxi driver. The families of those involved have been informed and are receiving support from specialist family liaison officers, as noted by Chief Inspector McCormick.
The crash site, a stretch of Wigan Road in the Deane area of Bolton, remained closed for much of the day as police and investigators continued their work. The Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) of GMP is leading the inquiry and has appealed for witnesses, especially anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage, to come forward. The public can contact the SCIU directly or reach out to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.
Images from the scene, shared by multiple outlets, show the extent of the destruction: two badly damaged vehicles, debris scattered across the road, and emergency crews working through the night. The collision took place outside residential properties, and neighbours described Wigan Road as being plagued by speeding drivers and frequent accidents. One resident, speaking to BBC News, remarked, “I don't understand how people don't learn from previous accidents and this is probably the worst one yet. It's probably only going to get worse if nothing happens so maybe the police and council need to do something about it.”
Chief Inspector McCormick emphasized the broader implications of the tragedy, calling it “a tragic reminder of the importance of safety on our roads.” She acknowledged that while the number of serious and fatal collisions in Bolton had “massively reduced,” the work was far from over. “One incident is one too many and this will do nothing to bring back the four lives affected. My thoughts are with everyone affected.”
In the hours and days following the crash, the community has come together in grief, with local leaders and organizations offering support to the bereaved families. The authorities have reiterated the need for patience as investigations continue and have urged the public to respect the privacy of those affected.
As the investigation proceeds, the incident stands as a stark warning about the consequences of road accidents and the ongoing need for vigilance, enforcement, and community engagement to ensure the safety of all road users in Greater Manchester and beyond.
