A MAN has died after a car crash in a quiet country lane in the early hours of the morning.

Khadar Nur, aged 25, of Longfield Road, Daubhill, suffered a serious head injury in the smash in Coal Pit Road, Smithills, when the Vauxhall Astra in which he was a passenger ploughed into a wall.

The vehicle rebounded and careered across the junction before coming to a stop in Smithills Dean Road.

Mr Nur, who was a backseat passenger and was one of four people in the car, was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, but died yesterday afternoon.

The crash happened just before 2.30am yesterday when the driver lost control and hit the wall, police said.

His condition deteriorated and he died at 3.45pm.

His sister last night paid tribute to Mr Nur.

She said: “Khadar was overall a nice big brother.

“He was kind, considerate and gentle, a good brother, a good son and a good uncle.

“Khadar means everything to us and we are feeling empty.

“What has happened hasn’t sunk in properly yet.”

Emergency services cordoned off the road for several hours while an investigation into how the accident happened got under way, but it was opened again by 9.30am yesterday.

Police have put up signs appealing for witnesses. The driver of the Astra, a 21-year-old man, and two other passengers, women aged 25 and 26, were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

All three are from Bolton.

PC Mark Potter, of police’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “Our thoughts go out to the family and we have a team of trained officers helping them get through this difficult time.

“We are investigating this incident which happened in the early hours of Sunday morning to establish the exact circumstances leading up to this collision.

“I want to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or saw a silver Vauxhall Astra before the collision.”

No one has been arrested in connection with the crash, and police were unable to say where the car had been or was travelling to.

Coal Pit Road leads only to farms, but is also used commonly by walkers and horse riders.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 8564741.