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Policeman dies in road smash

Nicole Kenny
17/ 1/2008

PARENTS and a police chief have paid tribute to PC Christopher Hart who was killed in a road accident in Openshaw on Saturday night.

PC Hart, 40, a response officer based in Bury and a father of a six-year-old son, suffered serious head injuries and died at the scene when the police van he was driving collided with a VW Polo, overturned and struck a set of traffic lights.

The collision happened just before midnight at the junction of Ashton Old Road, Pottery Lane and Alan Turing Way, as PC Hart and another officer were returning after taking some detainees to the central Custody Unit at Longsight.

The response officer, was trapped between the van and the roadway when his vehicle overturned after the collision and hit a traffic light. His colleague, 34, escaped with minor injuries as did the three people in the Polo.

An investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

PC Hart’s parents, Dorothy and Michael Hart who live in Ulverston, Cumbria, said: "Chris was a real outdoor type with a passion for fishing, for which he won many trophies when he was a junior.

"Chris passed these skills on to his six-year-old son. He had a strong and loving relationship with his son and Chris will be greatly missed by his family and colleagues."

Chief Superintendent Jon Rush, Bury divisional commander, said: "Chris had been brought up within the Bury area, he has a six year old son and was a devoted father. He joined the force just over four years ago, since then he had developed into a highly professional and motivated officer. This was a tragic incident that has claimed the life of a dedicated service officer and a well loved father.

"He was serving the community when he died, it was a job he loved and he was well known and respected for the enthusiastic and passionate way he policed the community. His colleagues are understandably very upset at the loss of a work colleague and friend in such circumstances. We're doing all we can to support them and his family at this stage."

The junction remained closed on Sunday morning while officers dealt with the scene.

Witnesses should call the road policing team on 0161 8563572.