POLICE are hunting for the driver of a pickup truck after a woman died in a hit-and-run crash in Wigan.

The 34-year-old mother was fatally injured after her black Volkswagen Polo was in collision with a green Volkswagen Amarok truck and a silver Mercedes.

She was taken to hospital following the incident in Bickershaw Lane, Wigan, at about 5.30pm on Saturday but later died.

Her three passengers, two girls aged four and 13, and a 29 year-old man, were also injured.

The 13-year-old's injuries have been described as serious.

The Amarok truck failed to stop after the crash and was later found abandoned in Bolton House Road, Wigan.

Three men who were in the Mercedes, one aged 21 and two aged 20, have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

They were also taken to hospital for treatment.

Sergeant Joseph Barron, from Greater Manchester Police's serious collision investigation unit, said: “Sadly yesterday evening a mother lost her life, and a little girl has received serious injuries and remains in hospital.

“This is a senseless incident that has resulted in tragedy.

“My thoughts are with the victim’s family, we will be doing everything we can to support them.

“We sadly deal with incidents of this nature often, people lose their lives on our roads and it never gets any easier.

"Occasionally however an incident occurs that takes a life and it leaves us all asking why it needed to happen?

"Children have been left without a mother, all because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“The driver and the occupants of the green Amarok know very well that they have questions to answer about their behaviour, they left the scene without thought for the people in the cars around them, they owe it to the victim’s family now to come forward and talk to police.

“Around the time of the collision there were many people around, and driving by.

"We would like to hear from anyone who saw any of the cars involved prior to the collision, or saw the Amarok making off from the scene.

"We would particularly like to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam footage. The information you provide could be vital to our investigation.

“Three people remain in custody today for questioning, we hope in the coming days we can piece together what has happened in order to give the family of the victim the answers they deserve.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741, alternatively call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.