Four people have been killed and five others injured following a collision between a car and a taxi in Bolton during the early hours of Sunday morning.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the crash occurred on Wigan Road at around 12:45am on January 11, 2026, involving a red Seat Leon and a Citroen C4 Picasso taxi. All four deceased individuals were declared dead at the scene.
Three teenagers believed to be aged 18 to 19 were among the dead, comprising the Seat Leon driver and two passengers. The driver of the Citroen C4 Picasso, a man thought to be in his 50s, also perished in the collision.
Five passengers sustained injuries and were taken to hospital, where they continue to receive treatment. Local residents reported hearing a loud bang just before 1am, with debris strewn across the road at the wreckage site.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service responded at approximately 12:50am with three fire engines and a technical response unit. A spokesperson stated: “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.”
Wigan Road remains closed with a cordon in place as investigations continue. Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is leading the probe and has appealed for witnesses, dashcam footage or CCTV material.
A GMP spokesperson said: “The SCIU are urging for anyone with information to please come forward. This includes anyone who saw the vehicle driving before the collision, witnessed the incident itself, or has dashcam/CCTV footage of the incident.”
Councillor Ayyub Patel of Bolton Council told Sky News the “incredibly tragic incident” had left the whole community “devastated.” He offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the families and loved ones affected, adding that residents “will need time to process and recover from such a profound loss.” He asked people to “avoid speculation and allow the investigation to take its proper course.”
Bolton Council of Mosques issued a statement expressing sadness at “the tragic accident early hours in the morning and the subsequent loss of four young lives.” The organisation said it is “closely supporting the families and liaising with the relevant authorities,” adding that authorities are “professionally, expediently and empathetically dealing with all the necessary issues.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741, quoting log 111 of 11/01/2026, or Crimestoppers anonymously.
