This article is more than 9 months old

This article is more than 9 months old

A man has died after being hit by a car on a motorway and thrown into oncoming traffic.

Greater Manchester police said officers were called to a stretch of the M66 near Bury at 8.15pm on Friday following reports that a vehicle had collided with a pedestrian on the northbound carriageway.

The victim, who has not been named, was thrown on to the southbound carriageway where he was hit by further vehicles, the force said.

The southbound carriageway between junction two at Bury and junction three at Pilsworth has now reopened after being closed for a number of hours.

Nicholas Corlett from GMP’s serious collision investigation unit said: “This is a devastating incident for all involved and our thoughts are with them as our investigation continues.

“Our inquiries are in their early stages but we believe several people witnessed this collision and might have dashcam footage or information that could assist us.

“If this is you or you were on either side of the carriageway at around 8.15pm, please contact us as soon as possible.”

Two pensioners were also killed and a third seriously injured after being hit by a car in Wigan on Friday night.

Emergency services were called to Upholland Road in Billinge at 8.15pm following reports of a collision.

A man in his 80s and a man and a woman in their 70s were taken to hospital, where the men were later pronounced dead. The woman remains in hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

All three victims were crossing Upholland Road close to the junction at Longshaw Old Road when the accident occurred, police said. No arrests have been made.