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Daughters in plea to hit-run death driver

Nicole Kenny
6/ 6/2008

CCTV FOOTAGE of a hit-and-run in Gorton, which left a grandfather dead, has been released in a bid to catch his killer.

The film shows Thomas Dolan, 54, from Carlton Grange, Gorton, starting to cross Hyde Road and being hit by a dark blue Toyota Avensis.

It also shows the damaged car being driven off - leaving Mr Dolan for dead with multiple injuries at 10.50pm on 18 May.

Now his three daughters, who are still coming to terms with the loss of their mother three years ago, are appealing for the driver or anyone with information about the accident to contact police.

His youngest daughter, Lisa Dolan, 28, who is eight weeks pregnant with her third child, said: "Dad was a family man who was very outgoing. He worked as a fork-lift driver. He had worked all his life.

"He was devoted to his grandkids. I'm just so devastated that my dad won't get to meet my baby. This has been a living nightmare for us.

"We can't even plan his funeral properly.

"We just want people to come forward and put some closure to it. We have been cheated out of another parent and someone is responsible for it."

The Avensis was left damaged by the collision on the driver's side of the body and bonnet; it also lost a mirror so the family are appealing for mechanics who recognise the damage to come forward too.

The CCTV shows the driver is a dark-skinned man wearing a light coloured top.

His other daughter Donna Dolan, 29, a mother of two, said: "You wouldn't even leave a dog like that and he has left our dad dying on the road.

"We need to piece together dad's last moments so we can begin to get on with our lives."

DI Pete Marsh said: "Tommy was catapulted up into the air and one witness said she thought it was a black bin bag blowing across the street, not a body.

"Tommy suffered serious head injuries and muscular injuries to his body. He was treated at the scene by paramedics. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"We are currently trawling through CCTV of the city centre, but we are missing a vital clue which is the registration."

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to call the Area 5 road policing unit on 0161 856 6173 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.