POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a mother died in a hit and run collision in Wigan.

Shortly after 5.45pm on Saturday, police were called to Bickershaw Lane to reports that three cars had collided – a black Volkswagen Polo, a silver Mercedes and a green Volkswagen Amarok.

Police and ambulance services attended but sadly a 34-year-old woman, the driver of the Polo, later died at hospital.

A 13-year-old girl was taken to hospital with serious injuries, and a 29-year-old man and a 4 year-old girl were taken to hospital for less serious injuries.

The driver and occupants of the Amarok failed to stop at the scene and the car was later found abandoned in Bolton House Road, Wigan.

The occupants of the Mercedes, a 21-year-old man and two 20 year old men, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. They are all currently receiving treatment for serious and minor injuries in hospital.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or any of the vehicles involved around 5.30pm to get in touch.

Sergeant Joseph Barron from GMP’s serious collision investigation unit said: “Sadly yesterday evening a mother lost her life, and a little girl has received serious injuries and remains in hospital.

“This is a senseless incident that has resulted in tragedy.

“My thoughts are with the victim’s family, we will be doing everything we can to support them.

“We sadly deal with incidents of this nature often, people lose their lives on our roads and it never gets any easier. Occasionally however an incident occurs that takes a life and it leaves us all asking why it needed to happen? Children have been left without a mother, all because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“The driver and the occupants of the green Amarok know very well that they have questions to answer about their behaviour, they left the scene without thought for the people in the cars around them, they owe it to the victim’s family now to come forward and talk to police.

“Around the time of the collision there were many people around, and driving by. We would like to hear from anyone who saw any of the cars involved prior to the collision, or saw the Amarok making off from the scene. We would particularly like to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam footage. The information you provide could be vital to our investigation.

“Three people remain in custody today for questioning, we hope in the coming days we can piece together what has happened in order to give the family of the victim the answers they deserve.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741, alternatively call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.