New lead in death crash

A fleeting shot of the car’s passenger. Do you recognise this man?

POLICE have stepped up their search for a motorist who caused a bus to brake sharply, resulting in the death of a 79-year-old passenger.

A new CCTV image has been released following the incident at around 12.45pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011.

A bus travelling on King Street braked suddenly near to Oldham magistrates court when a metallic grey or silver Vauxhall Vectra pulled out in front of it.

The sudden stop threw bus passenger Muriel Naylor forward, and she hit her head.

She was taken to hospital where she died a short time later.

Police have now issued a new picture of the car involved which shows a passenger with his head out of the window.

They are appealing for help from anyone who recognises the man, or knows the whereabouts of the car, believed to be a 2002-2005 model, possibly an LS.

Police believe the man sitting in the passenger seat was Asian.

PC Simon McEvoy, from the road policing unit, said: “It has been nearly two months since Muriel died, but I want to stress that our investigation is very much ongoing and we will pursue every possible lead so we can get the answers Muriel’s family deserve.

“We have now issued a new CCTV still which shows not just the Vectra, but also the passenger who was in the car at the time. I would like to make a direct appeal to this man to come forward and tell us what he knows.

“The information he has could be absolutely crucial to us, and just as importantly help fill in the blanks for Muriel’s family, so please if you recognise yourself then do come forward.

“Similarly if anyone else recognises this man we need to hear from you.”

The officer added: “We are still continuing to trace the whereabouts of this car so again I would urge anyone who knows anything to call us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161-856 8844 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800- 555 111.