A ELDERLY pedestrian and the driver of a car died in an horrific crash when the vehicle careered out of control as the driver suffered a suspected heart attack.

Shocked onlookers in Manchester Road, Kearsley, saw the Vauxhall Cavalier driven by John Westhead, 52, of Pilkington Road, Kearsley, veer wildly, smashing into a Renault Megane and mounting the pavement.

The Cavalier's passenger, June Baxter, 47, also from Kearsley, is thought to have grabbed the wheel in a desperate effort to control the car as it glanced off roadside buildings.

But her efforts could not stop it ploughing into pedestrian Norman Alexander, 86, of Lindley Drive, Kearsley, who died instantly.

Paramedics gave emergency treatment to the Cavalier driver, who has not been officially identified, at the scene of the crash at about 3pm yesterday, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

A post-mortem examination is planned to establish the precise cause of the man's death.

Firefighters had to cut his passenger from the wrecked Cavalier. She was treated for back and facial injuries.

Nearby garage workers alerted Kearsley CP School where it is believed the driver and passenger were travelling to pick up their children.

The Megane smashed into the side of The Antelope pub but driver Yvonne Partington, 47, of Bembridge Drive, Darcy Lever, escaped injury. She was treated for shock at Royal Bolton Hospital but later released.

Passer-by Barry Woods, of Melville Road, Kearsley, was one of the first on the smash scene. He described the terrible picture which greeted him.

He said: "I heard the bang as I sat in the pub. I ran outside and saw the carnage.

"I ran to the pedestrian who was covered in blood on the footpath. But it was obvious he was dead.

"I covered him up and went to the driver. He was crying that he had chest pains. The female passenger was also trapped in the back of the car and covered in blood. It was horrific."

Connie Cooke was working in her family business, Hydrofan Heating Company, when she heard the car hitting the front wall of the premises.

"The whole building shook," Mrs Cooke said. "I ran outside and was shocked at what I saw. It's terrible."

A flat cap and glasses lay on the footpath where the elderly man was killed.

Inspector Duncan Grundy of Bolton Police traffic unit said: "It is tragic. It is clearly an accident and the pedestrian was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Manchester Road was closed for about three hours while accident investigators inspected the scene.