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Oldham 'hit and run': Police charge four men over fatal road collision in which two young girls died

Cousins had been crossing the road near to their family home, when they were struck by a dangerous driver

Charlotte England
Wednesday 04 January 2017 14:52 GMT
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Zaneta Krokova, 11, and Helina Kotlarova, 12
Zaneta Krokova, 11, and Helina Kotlarova, 12

Four men have been charged over a hit-and-run in Oldham that killed two girls on New Year's Eve.

Gabor Hegedus, 38, of Oldham has been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, driving without a licence, failing to stop after a collision and failing to report the collision.

David Orsos, 18, Janos Kalanyos, 50, and Zoltan Peto, 49, also of Oldham, have been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Helina Kotlarova, 12, died at the scene on 31 December, her 11-year-old cousin Zaneta Krokova died in hospital on Monday.

The pair had been holding hands as they crossed Ashton Road, near the junction with Copster Hill Road, at around 7.15pm after visiting a shop with their family, when they were struck by a Peugeot 807.

The car was abandoned about half a mile from where the collision happened, Greater Manchester Police said.

Five men were initially arrested in connection with incident but one, aged 23, was later de-arrested. He assisted police with their investigations.

On New Year's Day, Helena's 19-year-old sister Sylva Kotlarova told Sky News how the family rushed to the scene 100 yards from their home seconds after the crash.

“Her face was all bloody. She did not breathe. Mum was touching her hair,“ she said.

Miss Kotlarova said the girls were with a larger group of family and friends who had already crossed Ashton Road, one of the main routes into Oldham.

She added: “But as they came to the other side of the road the car ran them over. They were holding hands.”

She said emergency services told her there was nothing they could do.

“She was too young to die. She was beautiful. She loved dancing and singing. She was a young lady who loved life,” she said.

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