A 69-year-old man has died after being run over by his own car as he tried to stop it rolling downhill.
The pensioner had returned to his white Kia Sportage after an afternoon walk with his son, believed to be 25, and their pet whippet today in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
He opens the boot to put the dog in the car and as his son – who is understood to be autistic – gets in, the motor begins to roll backwards downhill.
The man is thought to have travelled from Manchester to visit the Seven Acres Country Park in Bolton for a walk.
He can be seen attempting to stop the car from rolling but tragically falls under the weight of it and is crushed to death.
Horrified residents on the tiny cul-de-sac then rush out into the street to try to help the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The man’s son is comforted by neighbours as he begged: ‘Please don’t let my dad die.’
A 69-year-old man has died after being run over by his own car as he tried to stop it rolling downhill (pictured)
Distressed local resident Lee Houghton, 54, said he was unable to sleep last night after the horrific incident happened.
He said: ‘It has shocked me.
‘I have had to download the CCTV and give it to the police.
‘I was downstairs getting ready to watch the football and didn’t know anything about it.
‘If I had seen him, I’d have shouted at him to just let it roll, let it hit my house.
‘It’s only bricks and mortar, I wish he’d have just let it go and he’d still be here with us.’
Lee said neighbours were alerted to the son’s cries for help as the car rolled backwards.
He added: ‘My next door neighbour heard the lad screaming ‘dad’ and ‘help’.
‘He got out of the car shouting ‘I didn’t touch the handbrake’.
The pensioner had returned to his vehicle (pictured), a Kia Sportage, after an afternoon walk earlier today in Bolton, Greater Manchester
‘Because he’s from Manchester and his mum doesn’t drive, his carers had to come for him. He sat with my neighbours and he begged them “don’t let my dad die”.
‘A neighbour called the ambulance and the emergency services came to the street, but there was nothing that could be done for him. I think they knew instantly.
‘It’s just so sad, so tragic. I’m still in shock now. I just wish he’d let it roll, but I guess it’s just instinct. You do whatever you can to protect your kids.
‘He had no chance once it started rolling.
‘My sister rang me to say there was a commotion on the street. I came out and a paramedic said to go back inside, you don’t want to see this, it’s gruesome.’
Sergeant Philip Shaw, of Greater Manchester Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said: ‘This appears to be a tragic accident and our thoughts are with this man’s family at this terribly difficult time for them.
‘It remains important that we conduct an investigation into the circumstances of this incident to make sure the family have answers to why this happened.
‘We encourage anyone who witnessed the incident, saw the car prior to the man’s return to it, or has any information that may assist our inquiries to get in touch.’
Anyone with information can contact police on 0161 856 4741 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
The pensioner had returned to his vehicle, a Kia Sportage, after an afternoon walk earlier today in Bolton, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: ‘Police are appealing for information following a fatal road incident in Bolton.
‘At around 2.20pm on Saturday 23 April 2021 a man aged 69 returned to his Kia Sportage at the junction of Crompton Way and Crompton Vale following a walk.
‘The vehicle began to roll downhill and while attempting to stop it, the man was run over.
‘Emergency services attended but the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.’