A STUNNED father described how he passed the scene of an horrific road crash minutes after it claimed the life of his teenage son.

"I couldn't see clearly what had happened but I had a gut feeling that Martin was in some sort of trouble," said Mr John Keen.

His son Martin (17) was one of three people killed in the head-on collision which happened close to Lees Farm on Manchester Road, Ramsbottom, just after 10pm on Wednesday, October 15.

The Austin Mini Mayfair which Martin was driving towards Ramsbottom apparently lost control on a bend, colliding with an oncoming Ford Fiesta.

Front seat passenger in the Mini, James Adams (17) of Longsight Road, Holcombe Brook, also died as did the passenger in the Fiesta, Mrs Lesley Millerchip (49) of Malvern Avenue, Bury.

Three other people were injured. They were Mrs Christina Atkinson (50) of Brierley Street, Bury, and 17-year-olds Tom Dawson of Hawthorn Crescent, Tottington, and James Rothwell of Vale Coppice, Ramsbottom.

The four boys - all former pupils at Woodhey High School - were returning from a pool tournament in Bury. Tom sustained a broken leg while James had cuts and bruises. Workmates Mrs Millerchip and Mrs Atkinson were on their way home to Bury after a pub darts match. Driver Mrs Atkinson, who also has cuts and bruises, was trapped for 45 minutes before being cut free by fireman. All three are detained in Bury General Hospital. Mr John Keen, of Liddingdon Hall Drive, Ramsbottom, said he suspected something was wrong when he drove past the accident scene on his way home from Liverpool. "I couldn't stop thinking about. When I got home I rang the police and was given the tragic news," he said.

Martin, a pupil at Stand College, would have been 18 next week and his parents were planning to buy him a guitar.

His father said: "Martin loved music. He was hoping to form a rock band with the friends who were with him in the accident."

Mrs Millerchip, who was married with a teenage son, was the ladies darts team captain at the Royal Oak pub in Ramsbottom.

She had worked in the office of Bury-based sign manufacturing company, Signco, alongside her husband Wayne and Mrs Atkinson.

General manager, Mr Bob Fitzsimmons said: "The tragedy will be felt by everyone here."

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident. They should ring PC Peter Raines at the traffic unit on 856 8072.

Pictured are the cars after the fatal crash

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