Manchester police launch urgent manhunt for van driver after girl, 3, dies in horror tram crash

Greater Manchester Police is looking for the driver of a van that collided with a tram this morning. A three-year-old sadly died from her injuries after the crash

Greater Manchester Police has launched an urgent manhunt for a van driver, after a three-year-old girl tragically died in a tram crash this morning.

The child died after a Mercedes-Benz van collided with a Metrolink tram that was travelling through the city as she walked along Mosley Street. It is understood the girl was hit by the van as it rebounded from the collision.

Hours after the crash, officers are yet to locate the van driver involved in the crash and enquiries into the tragic incident are ongoing. A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "Emergency services are responding to reports of a collision involving a tram and a van in Manchester city centre.

"A three-year-old girl was taken to hospital and has sadly passed away from her injuries. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing."

Onlookers in a packed city centre reacted with genuine shock and sadness as the news of the tragedy emerged this afternoon, but local businesses and those who live nearby told the Manchester Evening News they see crashes happen in this spot "all the time". David, who works at 200 Degrees coffee shop, said his team didn't see the crash but "heard it".

"We checked our CCTV and could pretty much see what happened," he told the MEN. "The tram was coming down the road and had made its noise. The van didn't stop and tried to go over.

"The tram was across the road and the van came out. The tram hit the van and the van carried on. It basically took the front of the tram with it. I didn't see it on the other side but apparently someone got injured, a girl. So as the van has gone over I imagine it got pushed onto the pavement. So the tram hit the van and the van kept on going."

David said he believed the collision happened at around 9:55am, and said police and ambulances arrived "within five minutes". "We didn't see anyone, but we came out to have a look," he continued.

"I'd seen the police running and I thought - police don't run. If it was just a crash, the police wouldn't be running. And they don't wear gloves. So someone is obviously injured. Then we saw the two ambulances and thought yeah, someone has definitely been hit."

David said colleagues who have worked at 200 Degrees longer said crashes happen at the junction 'all the time'. "I don't know what else can be done though, because the tram makes a noise, and it's a busy tram line," he added. "It's just a case of common sense, just stop."

He added the van didn't appear to be going "abnormally fast". "It was just the case that it didn't stop," he said. "It thought it could beat the tram but the tram was too far for it to even think about stopping."

Pedestrians in a busy city centre also said they were unsurprised to see a tram crash at this spot. "It's because there's just a stop sign," one said. "There needs to be lights."

Tributes have poured in for the girl on social media. "My daughter is same age next month cant imagine what the family r going through. sat here in tears," a person wrote. "My heart literally goes out to the family xx."

"A very sad loss at such a tender young age," said another. "She hadn't even started life properly yet. Rest in peace with the Angels lovely and sending my thoughts and prayers to her poor Family."