A WOMAN has died and a man is in a critical condition in hospital following a "tragic collision" on a main road.

The two pedestrian were crossing Bury New Road when they were struck on New Year's Eve.

The woman and the man, both in their 60s, are understood to have got off a bus before they were hit while crossing the road by a white Toyota Yaris travelling eastbound.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and he was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

Resident Alan Wardle, of Bury New Road, said: "We heard a thud and my wife and I ran out with a couple of blankets. The lady was lying in the road at the end of the path. The man was a bit further down the road.

"I have never seen so many ambulances and police cars at one incident. The road was closed off completely."

It is unclear if the man and the woman were partners, relatives or friends or where they were going at the time of the collision.

The woman’s next of kin have been informed but formal identification is yet to take place.

Mr Wardle said: "Nobody who lives along here recognised them. Somebody said they got off the bus and they were walking over the road when it happened. Somebody else said the street light up the road wasn't working and it was too dark.

"The car driver was an elderly chap. I think he was he was 75. He was in a state of shock."

The Yaris driver was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He has not been arrested.

Police investigating the accident – which happened at 5.20pm close to the junction with Radcliffe Moor Road – are appealing for witnesses to the collision.

It happened close to the border of Breighmet and Radcliffe. 

Andrew Makin, aged 25, is the son of the landlord at the Top Bull pub near the crash site and had just driven up to the pub from Bolton when the incident happened.

He said: “I saw a lot of cars had stopped and thought what’s going on here, then I saw the accident.

“A lad I know was trying to help the woman while someone else was helping the fella, then the paramedics turned up.

“It’s a horrid thing to happen, especially at this time of year.  This road is a busy road, there are lots of accidents. Where the bus stop is there’s no pedestrian crossing.

"Something needs to be done about it."

Sergeant Lee Westhead, from the police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the victim's family at this difficult time.

"We continue to offer our support to them whilst we try and ascertain the exact circumstances behind this tragic collision.

"I would urge anyone who witnessed anything, or saw the car before the collision, to please call us."

Anyone with any information should call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 471 quoting incident number 1457 of 31 December 2016.