So Sad!!! Second Girl Dies After Hit-And-Run In Oldham

A girl who was left fighting for her life after a hit-and-run which killed her 12-year-old cousin has now also died.

Zaneta Krokova, 11, was run over with her cousin, Helina Kotlarova, 12, as they crossed the road holding hands on New Year’s Eve.

The 11-year-old had been in a critical condition in hospital since the crash in Oldham, which killed Helina at the scene.

Police said Zaneta died in hospital on Monday morning from the injuries she suffered.

Sgt Lee Westhead from Greater Manchester police’s serious collision investigation unit said: “This is a heartbreaking incident which has now taken the lives of two young girls and all of our thoughts remain with their families, who are understandably devastated.

“We have made significant progress with our investigation since the collision happened and I would like to thank everyone who has contacted police with information so far.

“The community are clearly as committed as we are to establishing exactly what happened to Helina and Zaneta and the support they have provided has been vital to the investigation.”

Detectives also released pictures of a blue Peugeot 807 estate car they said was involved in the collision, having initially believed a black VW Golf was responsible.

Four men – aged 59, 48, 38 and 18 – were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and were in custody for questioning. A fifth man, aged 23, initially arrested for the same offence was de-arrested and was assisting police with their inquiries.

Police were also trying to trace the driver of a white Citroën Dispatch, which was in the area at the time of the collision on Ashton Road, as they believed he could hold key information.

Westhead added: “As the investigation has progressed we have identified that the vehicle that struck the girls was a Blue Peugeot 807. We have recovered this vehicle abandoned on Honeywell Lane.

“The Peugeot is very distinctive and I am releasing pictures of the vehicle in an attempt to establish its movements on the 31 December in the hours prior to the collision.

“As you can see in the images, the vehicle is dark blue, people carrier shaped and is in poor physical condition and notably has pre-existing damage to its rear window.

“Did you see this vehicle on Saturday 31 December in the hours before or after the collision?

“Finally, I am also keen to speak to the occupants of a white Citroën Dispatch van that I am also releasing an image of. This vehicle did not collide with anyone but was in the immediate vicinity of the collision and may have key information.

“Again if you saw this vehicle or have any information about its occupants or why it was in the area at the time of the collision, please contact us.”

Earlier on Monday fellow Oldham residents appealed to raise £3,000 to help pay for Helina’s funeral.

Sallie Lou, who set up the JustGiving page with the approval of Helina’s family, said: “This is a page to help the family of Helina, who sadly lost her life following a collision in Oldham on New Year’s Eve.

“This is to help lay Helina to rest, and whatever the family might need. Rest In Peace angel, fly high x.”

Helina’s parents, Sylva and Robert, raced to the scene, 100 metres from their home, moments after the girls were hit.

Helina’s sister Sylva Kotlarova, 19, described how her mother held the fatally-injured 12-year-old and stroked her hair before she was pronounced dead by paramedics.

“Her face was all bloody,” she said. “She did not breathe. Mum was touching her hair.”

Helina, who has seven sisters and one brother, came to England from the Czech Republic eight years ago, her family told reporters. She attended the Collective Spirit free school in Oldham.

Her sister said the girls were with a larger group of family and friends who had already crossed the road, one of the main routes in and out of Oldham town centre, and the larger group was waiting on the opposite pavement. The two cousins then started to cross the road outside the shop.

Sylva Kotlarova said: “But as they came to the other side of the road, the car ran them over. They were holding hands.”

Witnesses described the car as driving fast and “flying away” after the collision. Seconds later, friends ran to Helina’s home to alert her family. Sylva Kotlarova said: “We ran there. I went to her. She did not breathe. Then the ambulance came.”

Bilal Ahmed, who witnessed the aftermath of the collision and dialled 999, told Sky News he had seen the girls outside some shops moments before the crash. “About five minutes later I came back and saw that had happened already on the road,” he said. “One girl was on the right side of the road and the other on the left.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call Greater Manchester police’s serious collision investigation unit on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident number 1691 of 31 December 2016.