A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a mum following a three-car crash.

Joanne Bailey-Collinge, 34, died in hospital following the collision on Bickershaw Lane in Wigan on Saturday evening.

She had been at the wheel of black Volkswagen Polo that was involved in a crash with a silver Mercedes C220 saloon and a green Volkswagen Amarok.

A 13-year-old girl a 29-year-old man, who were both travelling in the Polo, were taken to hospital with serious injuries, where they remain in a stable condition.

A four-year-old girl also in the Polo was taken to hospital for less serious injuries. She has since been released from hospital.

Joanne, who reportedly grew up in Leigh, is believed to have been travelling to the family home in Abram.

Leigh Journal:

A picture of Joanne Bailey-Collinge was posted on  a Just Giving page by friends

The driver and occupants of the Amarok failed to stop at the scene and the car was later found abandoned on Bolton House Road, Wigan.

Police say it has been established that the driver and occupants escaped the scene by forcing another motorist to drive them from the scene.

Tonight, detectives confirmed a 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, causing death by dangerous driving, kidnap and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He remains in custody for questioning.

A man, aged 42 from the Golborne area, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and remains in custody for questioning.

The occupants of the Mercedes, a 21-year-old man and two 20-year-old men, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The 21-year-old man and one of the twenty year old men have been eliminated from the investigation into causing death by dangerous driving but arrested for criminal damage.

They have been released on bail.

The other 20-year-old man remains in police custody on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Sergeant Lee Westhead from GMP’s Serious Collison Investigation Unit said: “This is a fast paced and complex enquiry and I would urge anyone with any information to contact the police as soon as possible.

“Arrests have been made but the investigation is still in the early stages so we still need help from the public.

“We are still searching for the two passengers that were in the VW Amarok at the time of this incident.

“I would say this to these people: ‘come and speak to us now on your terms before we come and find you’.

“I would particularly like to hear from anyone who saw a grey VW Amarok pickup truck or a silver Mercedes C220 saloon in the Bamfurlong area around 5.40pm on Saturday 20 April 2019, or who saw these vehicles on Bolton Road, Lilly Lane, Warrington Road and Bickershaw Lane shortly after this time.

“In addition to this, if you know the people involved in this incident and have information that could help us, please get in touch.

“I am grateful to the witnesses who have come forward already and the help we have received from the community. We continue to support the victims of this dreadful incident at this time and my thoughts remain with them.”

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.