A woman has died after being struck by a car in a shocking incident on Whitworth Road, Rochdale, which police are now treating as murder.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the woman, who had been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries, has since died. The 49-year-old male driver suspected of hitting her has been further arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
The event unfolded on Saturday afternoon, 3 May 2025, when emergency services responded to reports of a vehicle colliding with pedestrians at two separate locations: Woodgate Avenue and Whitworth Road.
Three people, including a child, were injured on Woodgate Avenue. Thankfully, their injuries were not life-threatening and they have since been discharged from hospital. Tragically, the woman struck on Whitworth Road did not survive.
The incident is being led by GMP’s Major Incident Team, who confirmed it is not being treated as terrorism related. Police stressed this incident is completely unrelated to a separate counter terrorism operation that occurred later the same evening in Rochdale. That operation saw a 40-year-old Iranian man arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, as part of a pre-planned operation led by Counter Terrorism Policing.
Assistant Chief Constable John Webster spoke about the road incident, offering his condolences to the victim's family. “The actions of a single person have caused significant damage to the people of Rochdale,” he said. “This terrible incident is in no way related to the Counter Terrorism arrests that took place later that day.”
Addressing speculation on social media, he confirmed: “The suspect is a white male currently in custody. No further details can be released at this time.”
Webster reassured residents that the event is being treated as an isolated case. “The lone offender has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Both scenes have now been closed and roads reopened. We thank the public for their patience and understanding.”
Residents who witnessed the incident or may have footage from the area are encouraged to submit details via GMP’s Major Incident Portal at: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP25S04-PO1
Man charged in relation to Heywood incident
Town centre crackdown uncovers illegal trading and unsafe properties in Rochdale
Oldham man says cancer charity support helped rebuild his life alongside NHS care
Local election candidate fuming over his name being spelt wrong
The town with a solution to their traffic problem
Local Elections 2026: What every party in Rochdale has to offer ahead of local elections
Family secures £16200 key worker support to move into new home in Bury
Four men charged after incident at Rochdale AFC match against York City
KYP Easter programme brings creative activities and healthy meals to Rochdale children
Middleton widow appeals for answers after husband dies from asbestos related cancer
Man in his 20s fighting for life after Royton crash as police urge witnesses to come forward
Fun five-days in Spain boosted the confidence of high school students ahead of their Spanish exams
Comments
Add a comment