The scene of the accident in Leigh Road, Leigh.
The scene of the accident in Leigh Road, Leigh.
The scene of the accident in Leigh Road, Leigh.
A WOMAN has died after a being hit by a lorry in Leigh.
The accident happened in Leigh Road at about 11.40am today.
Police said the pedestrian, a woman in her 90s who has not yet been identified, died at the scene.
A man who lives nearby said: "I didn't see it happen but I've heard that a lady has been killed.
"I think she was crossing the road and a truck has come round the corner and hit her.
"It is a horrible thing to have happened, to be run over at that age."
Police said the road will be closed from Market Place to Platt Street "for the foreseeable future".
Platt Street, Market Street, and Abbey Street are also closed and police are advising motorists to avoid the area.
Witnesses said there was a large number of police at the scene carrying out investigation work.
A woman who works in a nearby shop said: "We didn't see what happened but we've heard.
"It is normally a really busy road and traffic is queued right back so we don't know how it has happened."
Police say they have not been able to identify the woman or trace any relatives, and have now issued a description.
She was white, with short grey hair, wearing a beige coat and blue trousers and had a black and purple tartan wheeled shopping trolley.
Sgt Mark Thomas, from the police's serious collision investigation unit, said: “We believe she lives locally and are hoping someone will know her or someone related to her based on the description we have provided.
“Finding out this way is of course devastating and the last thing we want but unfortunately we have been left with no alternative.
“If someone knows this woman please contact us as soon as possible and I would like to reassure you that we have specially trained officers on hand to speak with you.”
Anyone with information can call police on 0161 8564741.
Anyone who witnessed the incident can call police on 101 or 0161 8567225.
England's  yesterday appealed to the public for information to track down a man who stole a woman's purse after she was fatally injured by a lorry. 

Police were alerted to the collision between the truck and the 82-year-old woman, in the town of , at approximately 1145  on Wednesday. The woman died at the scene, in what one nearby resident called "a horrible thing to have happened". Witnesses subsequently told police a man stole the victim's purse in the aftermath of the crash.

"This is one of the most disgusting crimes I have ever investigated and I find it hard to believe someone could stoop so low to commit such a horrific offence," said detective Sergeant Neil Lawless. "This man has taken what he sees as an easy opportunity by stealing a purse from a dying woman.  I am sure the community will be equally disgusted and I appeal to anyone who may have seen this man take the purse and walk off on Leigh Road. There are a number of rumours circulating on social media at the moment but I would like to reassure residents we are doing all we can to find out who is responsible." Meanwhile, website ''Wigan Today'' has claimed witnesses and an unnamed Greater Manchester Police source informed it some nearby pedestrians took pictures of her body following the crash, although the official police statement does not directly address these claims.

Sergeant Lawless has asked members of the public to contact police with any information that may be relevant to the investigation. Greater Manchester Police describe the thief as white, of medium build, aged between 30 and 40, and six feet in height. The police force say he "had a dark brown beard, and wore a light grey hooded top with the hood pulled over his head, light blue jeans and black boot style training shoes."




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