Five men have been arrested after a 12-year-old girl was killed when she was hit by a car as she crossed the road with her cousin on New Year’s Eve.
Helina Kotlarova, 12, and Zaneta Krokova, 11, were holding hands crossing the road when they were mown down by a hit-and-run driver in Oldham, Greater Manchester, last night.
The Manchester Evening News reports five men aged 23, 59, 48, 38 and 18 have now been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The girls had just come out of a shop near their homes when they were hit by a black VW Golf on Ashton Road at around 7.15pm.
Helina’s mother Sylva and father Robert raced to the scene but she was declared dead by medics as her distraught mother stroked her hair.
(Photo: PA)
(Photo: London News Pictures Ltd)
On New Year’s Day, the family of seven sisters and one brother, who came to England from the Czech Republic eight years ago, sat in tears mourning Helina.
Her father sat with his head in his hands, his wife weeping, while other red-eyed members of the family sat in silence in the kitchen of their terraced home.
Helina’s sister Sylva, 19, told how the family rushed to the scene 100 yards from their home seconds after the crash.
On arrival officers discovered a black VW Golf had been involved in a collision with two girls.
(Photo: London News Pictures Ltd)
Officers are asking anyone who saw a dark coloured Peugeot 807 in the area at the time and the driver of a white van to come forward.
Sergeant Lee Westhead, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “These are tragic circumstances where a young girl has lost her life.
“Another girl is currently fighting for her life in hospital and specially trained officers are supporting the families involved.
“Officers are trying to establish exactly what happened and we have a dedicated team working to locate the person responsible.
“We are currently carrying out extensive door to door enquiries and have five people in custody but our investigation continues.
“If you saw a black golf or a dark Peugeot 807 in the area then I would urge you to contact us.
“We are also keen to speak to the driver of a white van who was driving on the road around the time of the collision.”