Four people, including three teenagers, have died following a catastrophic collision between a car and a taxi in Bolton in the early hours of Sunday morning. Five other passengers were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
Details of the fatal collision
The incident occurred on Wigan Road, Bolton, at around 12.50am on Sunday, 11 January 2026. A red Seat Leon and a Citroen C4 Picasso taxi were involved in the serious crash.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the driver of the Seat and two of its passengers, all believed to be men aged between 18 and 19, died at the scene. The driver of the taxi, a man thought to be in his 50s, was also killed.
Emergency services response
Emergency services, including three fire engines and a technical response unit from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, rushed to the scene. Firefighters used cutting equipment to extricate casualties from the wreckage of both vehicles.
"Firefighters arrived quickly to make the area safe and used cutting equipment to help remove people from the vehicles before passing them into the care of North West Ambulance Service," a fire service spokesperson said. Crews remained at the location for approximately two hours.
Police officers assisted by cordoning off the area as investigations began. Formal identification of the victims is currently underway.
Ongoing investigation and aftermath
Five injured passengers were transported to hospital for medical care. The extent of their injuries has not been disclosed.
The crash has closed a section of Wigan Road as forensic collision investigators examine the scene to establish the exact circumstances that led to the tragedy. Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.
The community in Bolton has been left in shock by the scale of the loss, particularly the deaths of three young men. Local authorities are offering support to those affected.
