The picturesque road in the hills where another tragedy has claimed two more lives
The drive down the windy roads towards Denshaw is a beautiful one. But they have been at the centre of tragedies too many times. Yesterday afternoon (December 23), horror unfolded on Ripponden Road where a crash involving two vehicles claimed two more lives[1] – a 42-year-old woman and a 15-year-old child – and saw a 13-year-old child rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
A 35-year-old man who was driving a black BMW was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody. The collision took place near junction 22 of the M62[2] towards Denshaw. It happened less than a week after another young life was lost just off the same motorway junction where a black Seat Leon crashed into a ditch beside the A672[3] and a body was found nearby.
Mason Portman was pronounced dead at the scene[6] by emergency services in the early hours of Sunday morning (December 17). Days later, a 19-year-old died in a single-car crash[7] on the M62 at junction 21 for Milnrow[8] after the driver – who was arrested – ‘lost control’. The precise location of the latest crash has not been revealed by police, but the M.E.N. understands Ripponden Road was closed all the way down to Denshaw at the junction with Rochdale[9] Road, Huddersfield Road and Delph Road on Saturday afternoon (December 23).
Barry Evans, who is the landlord at the Junction Inn where the four roads meet, said the Ripponden Road was closed outside the pub until around 6.30pm – more than two hours after the collision occurred. He said: “We often get accidents on the M62 that affect us.”
The scene of the tragedy the following morning (Image: M.E.N.)
Alex Haigh from the Rams Head Inn, said the road was still closed by the pub which is further up Ripponden Road near the Oldham[10] border when she left work at 8pm. Alex, who is the landlord’s sister, said that a couple of customers cancelled their reservations.
Her mother, who did not provide her name, said: “The sad thing is the weather’s been so dreadful and the rain has been relentless.” Police are appealing to the public for information to establish the cause of the crash. They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have footage, including dashcam, mobile phone, CCTV or doorbell video, from the area in the moments before it took place.
Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit have asked for anyone who may have seen the car, described as a Black BMW X5, or the collision in the Ripponden Road area of Oldham, which happened at around 4pm on Saturday (December 23).
Anyone with information should contact the police on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 2304 of 23/12/2023.
Alternatively, details can be passed via the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
References
- ^ a crash involving two vehicles claimed two more lives (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ M62 (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ a black Seat Leon crashed into a ditch beside the A672 (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Woman, 30, suffers horrific injuries after being hit by car (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Flood risk as heavy rain to hit Greater Manchester with new weather warning issued (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Mason Portman was pronounced dead at the scene (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ a 19-year-old died in a single-car crash (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Milnrow (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Rochdale (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Oldham (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)