A six-year-old girl has died after being hit by a Range Rover near a primary school in Rochdale

Tragedy struck in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, when a six-year-old girl was fatally struck by a Range Rover on Ashfield Road on Monday evening. Emergency services arrived promptly at approximately 5:35 PM, but despite their efforts, the girl was pronounced dead shortly after. According to the Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the vehicle was traveling westbound on Ashfield Road when it hit the child who was reportedly on the carriageway. The driver remained at the scene of the incident and has not been arrested as the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) continues its investigation. Detective Constable Thomas Johnson expressed condolences to the girl's family and emphasized the importance of eyewitness accounts or any CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage that could aid in unravelling the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event. The police encourage anyone with information to contact them, thereby highlighting the collaborative effort required from the community to gather comprehensive details about the incident. This tragic collision brings light to the continual issue of road safety, especially near schools, raising concerns about the measures in place to protect vulnerable pedestrians. Pedestrian safety enhancement measures, including clearer signage and reduced speed limits near schools, have become critical as incidents like these occur frequently, instilling fear in local communities about child safety in public spaces.