A devastating head-on collision in Bolton, Greater Manchester, has claimed the lives of four men, including three teenagers and a taxi driver, in the early hours of Sunday. The crash involved a red Seat Leon and a Citroën C4 Picasso taxi on Wigan Road, leaving the community in shock and mourning.

The victims have been named locally by the Bolton Council of Mosques (BCoM) as Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, Farhan Patel, and Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, all believed to be between 18 and 19 years old. The taxi driver, Mosrab Ali, reportedly in his 50s and from Blackburn, also died. Formal police identification is still underway.

In addition to the fatalities, five other passengers sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses described a “loud bang” followed by “quite a bit of debris” and a “really damaged” red car. Footage circulating online reportedly shows the violent impact, with vehicles and debris thrown across the road.

Emergency services responded promptly, with three fire engines and a technical response unit from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service arriving around 12:50 AM. Firefighters used cutting tools to extricate victims before handing them to the North West Ambulance Service. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) cordoned off the area for roughly two hours.

Chief Inspector Helen McCormick of GMP expressed deep sorrow at the scene, confirming the four deaths and noting that specialist family liaison officers are assisting the victims’ families. She praised first responders for their efforts and emphasized the ongoing importance of road safety across Greater Manchester.

The BCoM released a statement affirming its support for the bereaved families, while local councillor Ayyub Patel conveyed the community’s profound sadness, urging the public to allow authorities to complete their investigation. GMP has appealed to anyone with information about the crash to come forward.