Ashton-under-Lyne crash: Man fighting for life after being hit by own car as it was being stolen

A 63-year-old man is fighting for life in hospital after being hit by his own car
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Katy Clifton16 February 2019

A 63-year-old man is fighting for life in hospital after suffering serious head injuries when he was hit by his own car as it was being stolen in Greater Manchester.

Police were called at around 7.20pm on Friday to reports of a serious collision in Nook Lane, in Ashton-under-Lyne, where the victim was found with serious head injuries.

He was rushed to hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Police said the victim saw his red Citroen being driven away on Rushmere and “tried to run after it before it struck him in Nook Lane”. The drivers failed to stop, the spokesman added.

Two people have now been arrested after the incident – a 46-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder and a 45-year-old woman on suspicion of assisting an offender.

They both remain in custody for questioning on Saturday morning.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “The victim saw his car – a red Citroen C1, registration number MV18 OSB – being driven away in Rushmere.

“He tried to run after his car before it struck him in Nook Lane. The offenders failed to stop and fled the scene, leaving the victim lying in the road.

“A short time later, a red Citroen – believed to be the car that was involved in this incident – was located by officers in Parry Walk off Diamond Street.

"Several roads were closed including St Christopher's Road, Nook Lane and Hampson Place. They have since reopened."

Detective Inspector Benjamin Cottam, of GMP's Major Incident Team, said: "The man remains in a critical condition in hospital, and my thoughts are with him and his family at this truly awful time.

"Although we now have two people in custody, this investigation is very much ongoing and I would urge anyone with information to please come forward to police if you haven't done so already.

"I'd like to appeal to anyone who saw the red Citroen C1 in the area at the time, or anyone with dashcam footage, to please get in touch with us as soon as you possibly can."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 9289 or 101 quoting incident number 363 of 15/02/2019 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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