Police officer rushed to hospital following crash in Ashton

Officers at the scene of a crash involving a police motorbike on Ashton Old Road
-Credit: (Image: Manchester Evening News)


A police officer is in hospital with serious injuries after being knocked off a motorcycle by a van.

The officer, who was riding a police motorcycle, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following the crash on Ashton Old Road on Friday morning. The driver of the van, a 60 year old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving. He is now in custody for questioning.

The crash happened at around 9am this morning (Friday) close to the junction of Alan Turing Way. Greater Manchester Police said emergency services responded to the crash.

One resident recalled hearing the smash from her home on Ashton Old Road and 'couldn't believe it' when she saw the police presence.

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She said: "I heard it and thought something bad has happened out there. When I went out to look a bit later I couldn't believe when I saw the police and ambulance. Just shocking."

A cordon remained around the scene until approximately 10:30am with any traffic wanting to go down past the scene of the crash being diverted by officers down a side street to avoid the scene. The cordon was in place from Pottery Lane to Stainforth Street.

Officers at the scene of a crash involving a police motorbike on Ashton Old Road
Officers at the scene of a crash involving a police motorbike on Ashton Old Road -Credit:Manchester Evening News

A recovery vehicle was also present in the aftermath of the crash removing what was left with one officer spotted sweeping the street.

Another resident, who was out for his morning run, recalled knowing he was looking at something 'serious'.

"I saw I couldn't run down there," he recalled, "Then just saw loads of police blocking the road. I could tell it was a serious incident from the amount of police."

In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: "Emergency services are responding to a serious road traffic collision involving a police vehicle and a van on Ashton Old Road. The rider of a police motorcycle has suffered serious injuries and has been taken to the hospital for treatment.

"Alan Turing Way has been closed while emergency services deal with the incident. The driver of the van, a 60-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has been taken into custody."