Motorcyclist killed in Wigan road smash

Emergency services responded to reports of a collision between a motorbike and a car on Bickershaw Lane, Bickershaw, at around 6.15pm on Wednesday, June 26.

Despite their best efforts,43-year-old Dean Hitchen who had been riding the bike, sustained significant injuries and died at the scene.

Initial inquiries suggest that the bike was driving in a westerly direction on Bickershaw Lane approaching the junction with Victoria Terrace. At the same time, the car was travelling in the opposite direction along the same road.

The car slowed to perform a right turn into Victoria Terrace and as it did so, the motorbike collided with its nearside unseating Mr Hitchen. Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses to the collision or anybody with footage of the incident to come forward.

Mr Hitchen’s daughter today led the tributes. She wrote on social media: “You never had a smile off your face. I’m so glad we did that day together – it was a memory to last a lifetime

"I wish we spent more time together. I will never forget all those weekends I spent with you when I was little. I got my own way with you every time.

"You did me proud. Rest in peace, dad, you’ll never be forgotten.”

Det Con Carl Boydell from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who sadly lost his life in this collision. We also thank those who stopped at the scene to help and provide care to the victim.

“We are in the early stages of our investigation and we are asking that anybody who saw the incident or may have captured anything in the locality that may be of interest to us around the time of the collision to come forward and help us understand what occurred.”

Anyone with any information, CCTV, or dashcam footage is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting log number 3195 of 26/06/24.

Information can also be shared using the LiveChat function on its website: www.gmp.police.uk or via 101.

Alternatively ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.