Harrowing new details emerge after girl, 6, hit and killed by Range Rover outside after-school club

The Sun

30-04-2025

HARROWING new details have emerged after a young girl was hit and killed by a Range Rover.
The youngster was attending an after-school Islamic class at a house in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, when the tragedy unfolded on Monday evening.
2
2
Cops and paramedics rushed to the horror scene at around 5.30pm but despite their best efforts, the girl died at the scene.
Now, harrowing CCTV footage - which The Sun has chosen not to show - has revealed how the tragedy unfolded.
The young girl is seen suddenly emerging from behind a parked car as the Range Rover approaches before she's hit from behind.
The driver stopped at the scene and no arrests have been made.
One woman said she'd witnessed the collision but was too traumatised to relive the horror.
'It was awful,' she said.
'I saw the accident happen but it was so upsetting I can't talk about it.'
She said an ambulance had been following the Range Rover and he'd been taken out of the vehicle so the girl could receive treatment.
It was reported that the girl's distraught mother was seen "crying and shaking" on a street corner following the tragedy.
A large police presence could be seen on the street on Monday evening.
Rosetta Defazio, 57, who lives on the road, said: 'I saw the girl's mother nearby afterwards.
'She was very upset and crying and shaking a lot.
'They were lots of other people who were also crying and standing in the street.
'Some of them were saying prayers.'
'AWFUL' AND 'HEART-BREAKING'
The collision also happened close to a convenience store and a nearby junior school.
A man, believed to run the after-school classes, said he didn't wish to comment when he was approached.
Other residents described the collision as 'awful' and 'heart-breaking'.
One man said: 'I saw the air ambulance hovering above so I knew if was serious.
'The poor girl's family must be distraught.'
Robert Herdman, 56, owns an ice-cream van and the street is on his regular route.
And he stopped to lay a floral tribute near the scene.
'I just wanted to pay my respects.
'The girl was probably one of my customers.
'It's so sad.'
Greater Manchester Police said the Range Rover was travelling along Ashfield Road when the driver struck the youngster, who had gone out onto the road.
Officers from GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are investigating and enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Constable Thomas Johnson, from SCIU, said on Tuesday: 'I firstly want to pass my condolences onto the family of the girl who tragically died following last night's collision.
"The thoughts of everyone from our investigating team are with them and we are continuing to support them where we can. As our work progresses, we are asking for anyone with any information to please come forward.
"You may have witnessed last night's incident, or have relevant CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage.
"If you can send this to our officers, this would be greatly appreciated as we put together a complete picture of last night's incident.'
Anyone with information is asked to contact GMP on 101 or online, quoting log 2683 of April 28, 2025.
Alternatively, contact SCIU directly on 0161 856 4741, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.