BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay delivered devastating news to viewers on Monday morning, confirming the identities of four people killed in a horrific head-on collision in Bolton over the weekend.
Heartbreaking Announcement on Morning Show
During the programme, following a segment on employment, Kay sombrely informed the audience that the victims of the late-night crash had been named locally. The fatal incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday on Wigan Road in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
He stated that the three young men in one vehicle were named by the Bolton Council of Mosques as Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, Farhan Patel, and Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, all believed to be aged between 18 and 19. The taxi driver, who was in the other car, was named locally as Mosrab Ali.
Emergency Services Describe 'Challenging Scene'
According to Greater Manchester Police, the collision involved a dark Citroen, driven by the taxi driver, and a red Seat carrying the three teenagers. Five other people were injured in the crash and were treated at the scene.
Chief Inspector Helen McCormack of Greater Manchester Police addressed the media from the site on Sunday afternoon. She praised the work of emergency responders who faced a "particularly challenging scene."
"This was a devastating incident for all those involved, none more so than the families of the deceased," she said. "I want to thank first responders... for all their hard work through the night and into today."
A Tragic Reminder of Road Safety
Chief Inspector McCormack emphasised that the collision serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of road safety across Greater Manchester. She noted that while serious collisions in Bolton have been reduced significantly, "one incident is one too many and will do nothing to bring back the four lives lost here today."
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reported that three fire engines and a technical response unit were called to Wigan Road at around 12.50am on Sunday. Firefighters used cutting equipment to free casualties from the vehicles before handing them to the North West Ambulance Service. Crews were on site for approximately two hours.
The investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash is ongoing.
