A PASSENGER of a taxi who was fighting for her life following a two-car crash has died.

The crash happened just before 4am on Saturday in Twist Lane at the junction with Kendal Grove in Leigh.

A silver Vauxhall Astra and a silver Ford Mondeo taxi are believed to have been involved in a head-on collision.

The driver of the taxi, Kenneth Grimshaw, aged 59, from Leigh, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger Emma Houghton, aged 23, from Golborne, was in a critical condition but died on Saturday evening. She was treated at the road side by paramedics before being taken to hospital. Miss Houghton suffered a serious head injury.

The driver of the Astra, a 34-year-old man, was taken to hospital. He suffered serious injuries. He was found trapped in the foot well of the passenger side. He has since been discharged from hospital but suffered leg injuries.

Firefighters from Hindley and Leigh attended the crash. Miss Houghton had been removed from the wreckage prior to their arrival. They remained at the scene for about 45 minutes.

PC Paul Hailwood, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: “Our thoughts are very much with the families of Kenneth and Emma, as they try to come to terms with the devastating events of this weekend.

“We have specially trained officers supporting them as best we can at this difficult time and are carrying out a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances leading up to this collision, so we can provide the families of all involved with some answers as to what exactly happened yesterday morning.

“We are asking for any witnesses that saw either the silver Astra or the metallic blue Mondeo taxi driving shortly before this incident occurred, to contact us.”

Watch manager Michael Wilding, from Hindley Fire Station, said: “We extricated one person, a man, from the Vauxhall Astra with cutting equipment. The driver was unconscious but came to and was conscious and breathing and he had injuries.

“The woman was already out of the taxi when we arrived. The paramedics did a brilliant job.”

Road closures were place on Saturday in Wigan Road and Twist Lane in both directions while police investigated between Firs Lane and Atherleigh Way, Parsonage Way and Findlay Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at the serious collision investigation unit on 0161 856 4741/4745.