Manhunt for van driver after girl, 3, dies in Manchester tram crash

A three-year-old girl has been killed after a tram crash in Manchester city centre.

The crash involved a Metrolink tram and a white van on Mosley Street this morning.

The girl was a pedestrian and was not travelling in either the tram or the van. She was hit by the van when it mounted the pavement following the crash.

She was taken to hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.

Now, investigators are looking for the van driver after he fled the scene.

Greater Manchester Police appealed for anyone who may have ‘seen the van driver leave his vehicle to get in touch with us.’

Assistant Chief Constable Stephanie Parker said: ‘Firstly, I would like to send my condolences to the family of the victim. This is a tragic incident where a young girl has sadly lost her life despite the responding officer’s best attempts to save her.

‘Our investigation is ongoing and we are investigating a number of lines of enquiry. This is being treated as an isolated incident with no wider threat to the community.’

A staff member that works in a local business told MEN: ‘We heard someone got run over but we didn’t know what happened.

‘That’s awful.’

Onlookers also told the publication: ‘Oh god, that’s awful.

‘I don’t even know what to say about that.

‘Oh my god that is awful. Just three years old.’

Roads are currently closed around St Peter’s Square and police have warned a ‘lengthy closure’ is in place.

A GMP Traffic spokesperson wrote on X: ‘Our officers are currently in attendance at a collision, involving a tram and another vehicle in Manchester city centre.

‘We are presently trying to establish the circumstances however we envisage there will be a lengthy closure of surrounding streets near to St Peters Square.’

There are no tram services between St Peter’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens.

There are severe delays on most other lines across the city’s network.

Because of the travel disruption tickets and passes are being accepted on Northern Rail services from Ashton and Manchester Airport to the city centre and local bus services.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.