A FOUR-year-old girl died in an horrific car smash after a sat-nav wrongly told her parents to turn right at an accident blackspot, an inquest heard.

“Little princess” Ariana Bardhaj took the full force of an Audi A5 travelling at 45 mph along the A6 at the junction with Station Road, Blackrod, in September last year, Bolton Coroner’s Court was told.

It is the sixth death on or close to the junction since 2005.

Fernando and Trish Bardhaj, from Blackpool, were driving to an address in Manchester Road, Blackrod, having earlier visited Chorley, at 2.30pm on September 11.

Learner driver Mr Bardhaj, aged 30, had just taken over the driving from his wife, after they had stopped at Frederick’s Ice Cream.

Their two children, Ariana and her little brother, Xhemil, were in the back of the family’s white Vauxhall Astra, when it collided with the two-tonne Audi car.

The speed limit on the road is 60mph.

There is no right turn from the A6 on to Station Road and the inquest heard there are clear signs at the traffic lights and before the junction.

But Mr and Mrs Bardhaj told police they did not see any signs and only found out about the restrictions following the accident.

The inquest heard neither driver saw each other and that David Wignall, who was behind the wheel of the Audi, did not even have time to brake.

The car hit the back passenger door and the court was told Ariana took the full force of the impact.

Her 18-month-old brother and Mrs Bardhaj were also injured, but Ariana died in the Royal Bolton Hospital three hours after the accident.

After the inquest, Mrs Bardhaj, who had been teaching her husband to drive, said: “Had it been a reasonable speed limit, then she may have survived.”

Sgt Jeff Hollick told the inquest there was clear evidence a criminal offence had been committed by Mr Bardhaj but the Crown Prosecution Service had decided it was not in the public interest to prosecute. He added there was no evidence the driver of the other car had done anything wrong.

The inquest also heard that the sat-nav used has a warning which advises users that they must follow road restrictions.

Sgt Gary Lyle said he returned to the scene with a similar sat-nav and that it told him to turn right.

But he added that more up-to-date software, which can be downloaded on to the navigation systems, would not give the same directions.

Assistant Deputy Coroner Peter Watson said: “Clearly all drivers must conform to road signage. They can’t depend on a sat-nav system.”

Recording a narrative verdict he said: “Ariana Bardhaj died from a severe head and spinal injury sustained while she was a passenger in a motor vehicle involved in a road traffic collision.”

Mrs Bardhaj, aged 32, also paid tribute to her daughter, adding: “She was a very beautiful and special little girl who was always smiling. She loved everything pink and sparkly, she was a little princess.

“She loved her little brother and her big brother, and everyone that met her was touched by her in some way. We miss her so much.

“We would also like to thank all the staff that treated Ariana at the Royal Bolton Hospital. They did all they could and we really appreciate everything they did.”