Police issue update after two teenagers left fighting for life in 'horrific' Deansgate Locks crash

A woman who was arrested after a crash crashed into two teenagers in Manchester city centre has been released on bail, police have confirmed.

The 'horrific' crash happened on Whitworth Street West, outside the row of nightclubs and bars on Deansgate Locks, at around 10.30pm on Saturday night (September 28). Police said a Toyota Yaris was travelling down the street, coming off Deansgate, when it 'lost control'.

The car hit a Vauxhall Corsa, before mounting the kerb and striking a Kia Sportage. A young man and woman, both aged 18, were knocked down in the smash.

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Both were rushed to hospital with 'life-threatening injuries'. They remain there today (Monday).

A woman - aged 30 - was arrested on the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. She was taken into custody for questioning.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed this morning that she has since been bailed pending further investigations. Witnesses described the scene outside Deansgate Locks as the crash happened on Saturday night as people rushed to help the teenagers.

One said they saw the car, which they said had a green 'P' plate on the window, being 'driven erratically' before 'wobbling' and 'veering to the left'. "It was horrific," they said.

"The car came from the direction of Deansgate onto Whitworth Street. I was on the other side of the road as we'd just left a gig at Rebellion.

"The car caught my eye at it seemed to be driving erratically. I remember seeing one of the hubcaps come off.

"It carried on a little further wobbling. It veered to the left hitting one car, then a second and then mounted the payment, hitting the pedestrians, ending up parallel across the pavement."

Bouncers and staff members from nearby bars, along with bystanders, are reported to have rushed over to help before emergency crews arrived. "People ran to help. I ran across the road and the driver was already out of the car and people had rushed to the two injured pedestrians," the witness added.

"It was a stroke of luck that there weren't many pedestrians on that side of the road at the time. My friend was around the corner on Deansgate waiting for her Uber and heard it.

"The staff who were first aid trained helped the injured and the bouncers helped corner off the area and keep onlookers away until emergency services turned up. They were a massive help.

"The staff from the bars were brilliant and definitely deserve credits for helping the injured. The pre care they administered before paramedics arrived I'm sure helped them both immensely.

"The bouncers put metal barriers they use for queue management around the injured. The police arrived shortly after the ambulances and made a bigger cordon."

Police are continuing to urge any witnesses to come forward. Yesterday, Detective Constable Simon Venguedasalon, of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Since this incident we have conducted our enquiries overnight and are now in a position to appeal to the public who were in the area for any eyewitness accounts and footage.

"We understand at the time, due to the location, plenty of witnesses were in the area near to the incident and would urge them to come forward if we haven’t spoken to you yet. As part of our investigation we are keen to understand fully the moment leading up to the serious collision to ensure we can provide the necessary answers to the loved ones of the victims who are currently still receiving treatment."

Anyone with information should call 0161 856 4741 direct or 101 quoting incident 3525 of 28/09/2024. Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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