THREE teenagers were killed in a head-on crash last night.

The smash happened when a Vauxhall Astra owned by Brian Rothwell of Liverpool Road, Hindley, was being driven along Liverpool Road, Hindley, towards Platt Bridge.

It is believed that the teenage girl driver had just negotiated a gradual left hand bend near to the junction with Longton Street when the car collided with a rented Ford Mondeo driving in the opposite direction.

Six people in the Vauxhall Astra, were trapped and had to be cut free by firemen. The four people in the Ford Mondeo, a family visiting the area from Tasmania, Australia, escaped with minor injuries.

The dead have been identified as the driver, Nicola Rothwell, 18, of Liverpool Road, Hindley; front seat passenger, Sonia Twigg, 16, of the same address, and Daniel White, 15, of Broadway, Hindley.

All were certified dead on arrival at Wigan Infirmary.

Jonothan Mather, 15, of Broadway, Hindley, is fighting for his life in the high dependency unit at Wigan Infirmary, with serious head injuries'.

Another passenger, Neil Wright, 14, of Cashmore Drive, Hindley, is undergoing surgery for internal injuries. And Scott Stafford, 15, of Bell Street, Hindley, was detained with head injuries.

The four people in the Ford Mondeo were Desmond James, 44; Lauren James, 13; Thomas James, 17, and Kathleen James, 45, all from Tasmania. The family were staying in Stalybridge, Manchester.

Witnesses to the accident, which happened at 6.15pm, are urged to ring police on 0161 856 702.

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