3 Teenagers and a Taxi Driver Killed in ‘Devastating’ Head-On Collision That Also Left 5 Others Hospitalized

Four people — three teenagers and a man in his 50s — have died after a head-on collision in Bolton, England.

Greater Manchester Police said in a press release that the crash happened early Sunday, Jan. 11, at about 12:45 a.m. on Wigan Road in Bolton, roughly 200 miles north of London. The collision involved a red Seat Leon and a Citroen C4 Picasso.

The BBC and Sky News reported that three teenagers, aged 18 and 19, were traveling in the Seat Leon. A taxi driver in his 50s was in the Citroen.

“The driver of the Seat, and two passengers have tragically died following the collision. The driver of the Citroen was also sadly pronounced dead at the scene,” police said.

Officers added that “Five injured passengers have been taken to [the] hospital, where they are currently being treated.”

“A scene is still in place at this time as officers continue their investigation,” authorities said, adding that the SCIU (Serious Collision Investigation Unit) is asking anyone with information to come forward.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service told Sky News it was called out shortly before 1 a.m.

“At around 12.50 a.m. this morning, three fire engines and the technical response unit attended a crash involving a taxi and a car on Wigan Road, Bolton,” the service said.

Firefighters “used cutting equipment to help remove people from the vehicles before passing them into the care of North West Ambulance Service,” the department added, noting that crews remained on scene for roughly two hours.

The BBC reported that local funeral notices identified the teenagers who died as Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, Farhan Patel and Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, and the taxi driver as Masrob Ali. Authorities, however, have not yet confirmed the victims’ identities.

Sky News reported that footage from the scene showed the vehicles colliding head-on, with debris scattering in multiple directions.

Local residents described hearing the crash and seeing emergency responders arrive. One person told The Bolton News the collision happened “exactly at 12.44am” and said they heard screaming moments later. Another resident said they heard “the loudest bang” and saw CPR being performed at the scene.

A nearby resident, Neelam Khan, told BBC North West Tonight that there had been previous crashes at the same location and urged action to prevent further tragedies.

Chief Inspector Helen McCormick of Greater Manchester Police described the crash as a “devastating incident,” according to the BBC, and thanked emergency personnel who responded.