POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a head-on horror death smash.
The collision happened minutes after midnight on Sunday - with unemployed driver William Baines less than half-a-mile from home.
On the dangerous, sharp bend at Marsh Playing Fields on Wigan Road, Leigh, the 30-year-old father-of-two, driving his Ford Fiesta XR2, crashed with a fire engine.
Emergency crews said Mr Baines, of Laxey Crescent, Leigh, died instantly.
A front-seat passenger in his car, Julie Kelly, 25, of Overton Street, Leigh, escaped serious injury. She was taken to Wigan Infirmary, where on Tuesday a hospital spokesman said her condition was "improving."
The vehicle was travelling along Wigan Road towards Tamar, near the Eldon Street junction, when the accident occurred at 12.15am. Part of Wigan Road was closed for several hours while police searched the crash scene.
Fireman Charles Henry, 47, of Golborne, was driving the ladder appliance involved. He was returning to his Leigh base from an incident in Wigan when the accident occurred. He was not injured.
Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should call 0161-872-5050.
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