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Were Flip-Flop Sandals To Blame For Causing Car Crash That Killed 9-Year-Old Female Passenger When Vehicle Slammed Into Brick Wall?

By Angelica N. Sumter
Published on: 09:32 PST, May 10, 2016

Manchester police officials are now investigating whether a pair of flip-flop sandals played a role in the car crash that killed a 9-year-old female passenger when it slammed into a brick wall, according to the Manchester Evening News. At approximately 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, a black Toyota Auris driven by a 45-year-old man was travelling on Manchester Road in Altrincham near Stamford Road with two female passengers – aged 11 and 9 – when it suddenly slammed into a brick wall.

None of the victims involved in the car crash have been identified. However, sources say that the male passenger was the father of the two female passengers.

After hearing the vehicle slam into the brick wall, an eyewitness told reporters that they immediately “ran outside and saw the car crashed into the wall. I went over to the car straight away and tried to help. The male driver was stuck in the car, his knees were tucked in.”

“We then tried to help the girl in the front seat and was able to get her out. Sadly the girl in the back seat had already died. It was just horrific.”

The eyewitness went on to say that they tried to “stabilize the driver because I thought he might have another injury. But he was shouting and screaming because of the pain. I think both of his legs were broken and he also had a head injury.

“We laid the surviving female passenger on the floor and discovered that she also had a head injury, and she was complaining about her stomach and back.”

As the witness was helping the car crash victims, “about 10 passersby arrived and waited with them until help arrived.” The witness added that the incident was “just terrible. It’s a very difficult experience. It’s the first time I’ve seen this kind of thing.”

When emergency services arrived at the scene, they blocked “part of the road in both directions for several hours.” The male passenger and the 11-year-old girl sustained life-threatening injuries in the car crash and were transported to a local hospital, where they were listed in serious condition. The 9-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fatal car crash, but officers later confirmed that a pair of flip-flip sandals, belonging to the driver, was found wedged in the pedals, which may have played a role in the crash, according to the Daily Mail.

Following Saturday’s car crash, the Greater Manchester Police released a statement, which stated, “The driver, due to his own serious injuries, has not yet been able to provide a full account of what happened. The Serious Collision Investigation Unit is undertaking a rigorous and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the collision to enable them to provide a full account to the family and ultimately to the coroner.”

“We are still appealing to anyone who may have seen the collision to get in touch, we are particularly interested to hear from anyone who may have any dash cam footage that could help with our investigation.”

Sergeant Brian Orr, who is with the Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said that his “thoughts are with the family at this devastating time, we will be doing all that we can do to support them.”

“Our initial inquiries led us to believe that two young boys had fled the vehicle shortly after the collision. We now know this to be incorrect information and our search for any other passengers has been stood down.”

Orr added that “our focus is now to find out how this collision happened and we are appealing for anyone with any information to get in touch with police.”

Police officials are asking witnesses to the fatal car crash to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit. If you want to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers.

[Image via Getty Images/John Cowpland]

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