Full Breakdown
Police Car Crash Triggers Gas-Leak Evacuation on Bolton’s Blackburn Road
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
Shortly before 12 p.m. on Friday, October 2, a police vehicle responding to a separate call collided with another car and then struck a shop on Blackburn Road in Bolton’s Astley Bridge district. The impact released a strong smell of gas, prompting emergency crews to treat the site as a potential gas leak. A cordon was erected in both directions of the road, and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution. No serious injuries were reported among the occupants of the police car, the other vehicle, or members of the public.
Official Statements & Responses
A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson confirmed the sequence of events and emphasized that emergency services remained on-scene while the situation was assessed. The spokesperson also noted that the cordon would stay in place until the leak risk was resolved. A representative of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reported that fire crews were called to the location just after 12 p.m., detected the gas odor, and continued to work alongside GMP, the North West Ambulance Service and Cadent, the gas network operator, to secure the area.
Response and Impact
The road closure, identified as the A666 between Asda and Seymour Road, forced traffic to divert and slowed movement through the neighbourhood. Cadent’s teams inspected the gas infrastructure while fire crews monitored for any escalation. Residents were instructed to remain outside their homes until authorities lifted the evacuation order. As of the latest update, the cordon remained active and emergency personnel were still conducting safety checks.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Shortly before 12pm on Friday, October 2, a police car collided with a vehicle before crashing into a shop on Blackburn Road, Bolton, whilst responding to a different incident on blue lights. Emergency services are in attendance and no serious injuries have been reported.” — GMP spokesperson