Girl, 12, is killed and five of her family are injured in horrific hit-and-run motorway crash: Police hunt for drivers who abandoned their wrecked Vauxhall Corsa and fled after fatal smash
- Sana Patel, from Blackburn, died following a collision on the M61 last night
- Police have launched a manhunt after those travelling in the other vehicle fled
- Vauxhall Corsa driver and passengers ran away on foot after smash with Nissan
A 12-year-old schoolgirl has been killed and five others left injured after a horrific motorway crash last night.
Sana Patel, from Blackburn, died when the Nissan Qashqai she was in collided with a Vauxhall Corsa on the M61 near Bolton.
Police have now launched a manhunt after those travelling in the Corsa fled the scene of the smash on foot.
Sana Patel, from Blackburn, died when a Nissan Qashqai collided with a Vauxhall Corsa on the M61 near Bolton
The five other people in the Qashqai suffered minor injuries from the collision which happened at 10.45 last night on the northbound carriageway between junction eight and the Bolton West Rivington services.
Supt Andy Cribbin, of Lancashire Police, said: ‘First and foremost our thoughts are with the family and friends of the girl Sana.
‘There are no words to describe what they will be going through and we send them our deepest condolences at this incredibly difficult time. They are currently being supported by specialist officers.
‘Our investigation is in the early stages and we are working hard to establish exactly what occurred, and to locate the people who were in the Corsa.
‘We are now appealing directly to them. We know the car is registered to an address in West Yorkshire and we are appealing for the driver and any passenger at the time of the collision to make contact with us as soon as possible.
‘A 12-year-old girl has tragically lost her life, so we would urge them to search their conscience and do the right thing by contacting us.
‘We are also asking anybody who saw the collision, or saw either vehicle in the moments before it happened, to get in touch with us as soon as possible.’