TWO drivers who risked their own safety to help a fatally injured special constable from Bolton have been commended for their bravery, care and compassion.

Special officer Samantha Derbyshire, from Horwich, died after being hit by a HGV on the M61 last year.

Miss Derbyshire was travelling home, at around 3am on July 3, when her vehicle was involved in a minor road traffic collision, resulting in the car becoming stuck at a horizontal angle across two lanes.

The 23-year-old was standing close to her vehicle after putting her lights on when a HGV struck both the car and her and she was thrown onto the hard shoulder of the motorway.

Oliver Beard, from Lincolnshire, was travelling to Scotland and discovered the collision, prompting him to call the emergency services from further along the hard shoulder.

Kim Tipping, from Preston, was making her way home from Manchester Airport and realised that somebody had likely been injured after seeing the state of the vehicle and began searching the hard shoulder for the occupants of the car.

When they discovered Miss Derbyshire, Mrs Tipping and Mr Beard worked together to administer chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth, doing so for ten minutes until paramedics arrived.

Unfortunately, Miss Derbyshire’s injuries were very severe and she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said that despite the tragic outcome, both Mr Beard and Mrs Tipping acted selflessly and prioritised the need to help Miss Derbyshire above considerations for their own safety.

Mrs Tipping said: “Both Oliver and I tried our best to help Samantha, but unfortunately her injuries were so severe that she wasn’t able to survive the accident.

“I acted very much on impulse and as a cabin crew trainer for Jet2.com, I have experience of first aid training and I have dealt will all kinds of emergencies where teamwork is essential.

“Oliver and I very much worked as a team and supported each other in our efforts to save Samantha, and I am appreciative that our efforts have been recognized for an award.”

Mr Beard added: “As Kim said, despite our best efforts Samantha unfortunately lost her life in this awful accident.

“While I am honoured that our actions and efforts have been recognised with this award I feel I was only acting on human instinct.

“Working for National Radio Bank my role involves travelling hundreds of miles a week all over Europe, and I would like to think that should I or anyone I know ever be in that situation someone would 'step up'.”

Hundreds of people paid tribute to Miss Derbyshire as a ‘special friend’ and a ‘popular person’ following her death.

She worked as a civilian call handler for Greater Manchester Police and had been due to start as a regular police officer.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins presented the pair with their awards.

He said: “Not only a member of police staff, Sam also served the public as a special constable in the Bolton division and had recently been accepted in her application to become a police constable.

“This was a very tragic accident, and Sam is sorely missed by her family, friends, and GMP colleagues.

“I would like to offer my personal thanks to both Kim and Oliver for their efforts in trying to save Sam.

"They should both be proud of the way they acted on that fatal night. They both demonstrated great care and compassion for which Sam's family and I are extremely grateful.”