A young man, aged 19, has tragically passed away following a car collision on a major motorway. The incident occurred near the M60 junction at Simister Island on Sunday evening. Authorities responded to the crash scene, which resulted in the closure of the M66 overnight, with suspicions that it may have been linked to a police pursuit.
Law enforcement has confirmed that the pedestrian was fatally struck by a southbound vehicle on the M66 around 9:40 pm. The Greater Manchester Police revealed that the victim might have been associated with a car previously pursued by patrol officers from the force.
Reportedly, a blue BMW X3 was first observed speeding on Bury Old Road and then ran a red light, prompting a police chase. The BMW was later found abandoned on the Junction 18 roundabout of the M60 after colliding with another vehicle. The passengers of the BMW fled on foot along the motorway, resulting in the fatal collision with a Tesla, leading to the young man’s death. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Referrals have been made to the GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate and the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) is now seeking any witnesses to come forward.
DC Ian Lawton from GMP’s SCIU stated, “Officers engaged in a pursuit as per protocol when a vehicle failed to stop for police while speeding. The subsequent collision and tragic fatality are under independent review with the IOPC. Our sympathies go out to the family, and we urge anyone with information to cooperate.”
Authorities are urging individuals with any CCTV, dashcam, or mobile phone footage from the area leading up to the collision to come forward. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the police quoting reference number 3150 of 16/11/2025 or use the reporting tool on the GMP website.
For anonymous tips, individuals can reach out to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, at 0800 555 111.