Loving gran, 63, killed in horror crash as devastated family pay tribute

Tributes have been paid to a former nurse with "a loving, caring nature" who was killed in a crash in Bolton. Karen Kimblin, 63, who was a mother-of-four and had seven grandchildren, was a passenger in a Nissan which was involved in a crash with a Mercedes on St Helens Road on Saturday.

Her family said today they were "crushed" by her loss as they appealed for witnesses to the incident to contact police. The male Mercedes driver, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, remains under arrest in hospital after he was injured in the crash.

The incident happened at around 7pm on Saturday, June 22. Police officers said a Mercedes travelling south-west along the road had collided with a Nissan heading in the opposite direction.

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Karen, a passenger in the Nissan, died from her injuries. The Nissan driver was also seriously injured and remains in hospital.

There have been no charges brought in relation to the incident so far, Greater Manchester Police confirmed this morning, June 24.

Pictures from the scene showed two badly damaged cars, one of which had ended up on a pavement. Two air ambulances were also dispatched to the scene in the Daubhill area of Bolton.

In a tribute to Karen today (Wednesday), her family said: “The family are heartbroken to lose Karen Kimblin, loving wife to Ken Kimblin, doting mother to Char, Steph, Nat and Helen, and Grandmother to seven grandchildren.

“Karen worked all of her life as a nurse caring for others which came so easily to her with her caring and loving nature. Our family loves her beyond words and received the same love and devotion in return from her. Our world is crushed to losing her. Her memory will live on with us forevermore.

“We as a family are grieving in private and we ask any person(s) who witnessed the collision or has information to come forward to the police and assist the investigation. We are also aware that there are some videos of the aftermath of the collision circulating on various social media platforms. We ask people to think about the distress such videos cause to the family and request that they remove these videos immediately.”

Police are still appealing for witnesses and anyone with any information, CCTV, or dashcam footage is asked to call 0161 856 4741 quoting log number 2759 of 22/06/24.

Information can also be shared using our LiveChat function on our website: www.gmp.police.uk or via 101. In an emergency, always dial 999. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity - Crimestoppers - anonymously on 0800 555 111.