Road safety campaigner dies days after crash in Bury
Irene Allen was seriously injured on a road she'd called to be made safer
Last updated 18th Dec 2022
An 87-year-old former lollipop lady has died five days after a crash in Greater Manchester.
Irene Allen was badly injured when it happened on a road in Bury - which she'd campaigned to make safer.
Her requests for better crossings for school children started in the 1960s.
In a tribute to Irene, her daughter Melanie said:
“Irene was a much loved ex-medical receptionist at Ribblesdale House and AgeUK Jubilee Centre committee member.
“Irene lost the fight for her life on Sunday 11th December, she had been involved in a road traffic collision on Walmersley Road Bury on Tuesday morning, and despite the best efforts of Salford Royal Rescue and ICU teams, Irene never fully regained consciousness.
“The police are continuing to investigate the circumstances but a post mortem concluded that she died of multiple injuries caused by the collision.
“Irene, a keen walker and Rawtenstall Cricket fan, leaves behind a daughter and three grandchildren and a whole community who miss her sunny personality.
“Always putting others before herself, in the mid 1960’s Irene complained to Bury Council about the lack of safe crossings for school children across the busy Walmersley Road, and became the newsworthy first lollipop lady in Bury.
“This tragic irony sits with us today.”
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said:
"Officers are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have footage, including dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV/doorbell footage from the area in the moments leading up to and before the collision took place.
"Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 1115 of 06/12/22.
"Alternatively, details can be passed via the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."