A 10-year-old girl who died in a tragic hit-and-run crash in Oldham has been named locally as Lily Rose Morris, while police continue to quiz a motorist who was arrested shortly after the collision.
Residents reported hearing a loud bang and rushed to the aid of two girls following the collision in Oldham, Greater Manchester, at around 5pm on Saturday.
A red Land Rover Discovery, which was involved, also struck a lamp post and a 42-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence, Greater Manchester Police confirmed.
Lily suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital but medics were unable to save her.
One resident, who rushed to the scene, had tried to save her life by giving her CPR before emergency services arrived.
The other girl was taken to hospital with an ankle and a head injury, where she remains in a stable condition, a police spokesman said.
Witnesses said the driver of the Land Rover initially left the scene before returning a few minutes later when he was then accosted by a resident who ‘knocked him out’ before handing him over to police.
It is understood the girls were on their way to a local chip shop when they were hit.
One witness, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I heard a loud bang and went outside.
‘One girl, who was lying on the grass on the other side of the road, was being given CPR by a neighbour.
‘I could tell she was in a bad way because when I went over I couldn’t feel any pulse and a police officer later arrived and took over the CPR.
‘The other girl who was hit was lying a bit further up the road, near the bus stop, and I could see a lamp-post had also been damaged.
‘The red Land Rover that was involved drove off, with bits of the lamp post on the bonnet, before going around the block and stopping.
‘The neighbour who’d been doing the CPR chased after the driver and grabbed him when he got out of the car and knocked him out.
‘Police then arrived and took him away.’
Dozens of floral tributes were left at the scene for Lily, who attended Hodge Clough Junior School.
One read: ‘Good night, God bless Lily. Rest in Peace little angel. We did all we could. All our love Nina, Dave, Christine.’
Another read: ‘Sleep tight Lily. I will never forget your beaming smile. Mrs Oakes.’
Neighbours of her family also paid tribute to ‘lovely’ Lily who had a ‘beautiful smile’.
One said: ‘She was just a lovely child and always such a happy little girl.
‘It’s so sad what’s happened.’
Another added: ‘She had a beautiful smile and hair and was always smiling.’
A JustGiving page has been set up memory of Lily and has so far raised more than £2,600.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: ‘Emergency services attended and a 10-year-old girl was taken to hospital with serious injuries where, despite the best work of hospital staff, she sadly died a short time later.
‘The other child was taken to hospital with an ankle and head injury where she remains in a stable condition.
‘A 42-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence. He remains in custody for questioning.’
The road was cordoned off by police throughout yesterday evening as investigators probed the circumstances of the crash.
