Key Points:
- Vicki Attenborough, 59, was one of two women struck and killed on Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, on the morning of 22 December 2025.
- Greater Manchester Police confirmed she died at the scene; the second victim, aged 57, has not yet been named.
- A 19-year-old driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
- Ms Attenborough’s family described her as “dedicated to making the world a better place” and passionate about social justice, animals, and community work.
- She was formerly an NHS worker, Green Party member, open-water swimmer, and volunteer with the Samaritans.
- Tributes have poured in from political colleagues and community figures, including Green Party’s Alan Johnson and Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Hayes.
- Police have appealed for witnesses, urging the public to share dashcam footage.
- The fatal crash investigation continues under Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.
What happened on Smithills Dean Road?
According to ITV News Granada, the fatal collision occurred at around 7.40am on Monday, 22 December 2025, when two female pedestrians were struck by a vehicle as they walked along Smithills Dean Road, north-west Bolton.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed in an official statement that
“officers attended the scene alongside emergency services, but sadly, one of the women, aged 59, was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The other woman, aged 57, was also killed, though she has not yet been publicly named pending family liaison.
A GMP spokesperson said the driver, a 19-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody while inquiries continue. The force added that the Serious Collision Investigation Unit is handling the case.
Detectives have appealed for witnesses and asked anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage taken on Smithills Dean Road between 7.15am and 7.45am to contact them urgently.
Who was Vicki Attenborough?
As reported by BBC News North West, Vicki Attenborough, aged 59, lived locally in Bolton and was walking with a friend at the time of the crash. Her family issued a heartfelt tribute through Greater Manchester Police, saying she would be remembered as
“a dearly loved wife, mother, daughter and friend who touched the lives of everyone around her.”
The tribute, published by Manchester Evening News, read:
“Vicki was a dearly loved wife, mother, daughter and friend who touched the lives of everyone around her. Family meant everything to her, and she has left a huge hole in our hearts. She lived life to the full, going open-water swimming several times a week in Dean Mills Reservoir, even in the depths of winter.”
The family’s statement continued:
“She was an animal lover and was inseparable from her golden retriever, Jake. Once retired, after giving a full career to the NHS, she was never busier with causes she cared about. Vicki cared deeply about inequality and injustice and was dedicated to making the world a better place. This was shown through her charity fundraising events and volunteering with the Samaritans. She was a loyal friend of many and will be deeply missed.”
How are political colleagues and community figures reacting?
Alan Johnson, Green Party branch chair for Bolton, issued a tribute quoted by The Bolton News and ITV News, calling her “a great loss to the Green Party in Bolton.”
In his statement, Johnson said:
“Vicki was a brilliant secretary, she stood last year in the General Election as our candidate in Bolton West, and she achieved the best ever vote for the Green Party in the constituency. She managed to save the deposit at the election — as we did in all three constituencies — as we made massive strides. She will be very hard to replace. She was a lovely, caring person, concerned about her fellow human beings and the environment, and she was a fighter for social justice.”
Johnson added that Ms Attenborough had brought “commitment, organisation, and positivity” to the Green Party’s local activities, describing her as an “irreplaceable part of the Bolton political landscape.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Hayes, who represents the Smithills ward on Bolton Council, also paid tribute in comments to Manchester Evening News. Hayes said:
“Vicki was a very nice person. We worked together an awful lot in Smithills — we were very close in that respect. She’s one of the dog walkers here, and I would see her two or three times a week walking her dog. I’m very, very sad to hear it.”
Councillor Hayes added that Ms Attenborough’s loss would be felt deeply across the local community, calling her “a kind neighbour, a passionate volunteer, and a true champion of local people.”
How did Vicki Attenborough serve her community?
As detailed by ITV News Granada Reports, Ms Attenborough retired from a long NHS career before devoting her time to local environmental, social justice, and mental health causes. She volunteered for the Samaritans, raised funds for various local charities, and continued her environmental campaigning as an active Green Party member.
Friends told BBC Radio Manchester that she was known for her “energy and compassion,” often combining her love of the outdoors with community activities, such as charity swims and litter-cleaning walks with her beloved dog, Jake.
“She really believed in putting kindness into action,”
one friend told BBC North West Tonight, describing how Ms Attenborough often encouraged others to “get involved, no matter how small their contribution.”
What are police saying about the ongoing investigation?
According to the official statement issued by Greater Manchester Police on Monday afternoon, detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are examining the cause of the crash and have asked anyone who may have relevant footage or information to come forward.
A GMP spokesperson said:
“Our officers are working to establish the full circumstances of this incident. We are appealing to members of the public who may have witnessed the collision, or who possess dashcam footage of the area around Smithills Dean Road between 7.15 and 7.45am on Monday, 22 December, to contact police as soon as possible by calling 0161 856 4741 or 101, quoting log 726-22/12/2025. Information can also be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers.”
Police have not released details of the vehicle involved, but local reports from The Bolton News suggest that forensic teams remained at the scene until mid-afternoon, while traffic diversions were in place for much of the day.
What do locals say about road safety in the area?
Residents told Manchester Evening News and BBC Radio Manchester that the stretch of Smithills Dean Road where the crash occurred is known locally for speeding issues, with several previous incidents reported near Dean Mills Reservoir. One local described it as a
“narrow, winding stretch” often used by commuters “in too much of a rush.”
Neighbourhood campaigners have called again for improved pedestrian safety measures, including more visible road markings and better lighting around the reservoir and residential curves.
Local councillor Roger Hayes said he would raise the matter with Bolton Council’s transport team:
“We cannot bring Vicki back, but it’s our responsibility to make sure no other families have to go through this.”
How is the community remembering her?
Tributes have flooded social media, including dozens of posts shared by charity volunteers, former NHS colleagues, and fellow swimmers from the Dean Mills open-water group. Many described her as “the heart of every activity” and “an inspiration to everyone who knew her.”
Environmental groups across Bolton have also pledged to organise a local memorial event in January in her honour.
“She wanted a kinder world, and she worked every day to make it one,”
one post read on the Bolton Green Party’s Facebook page.
The Samaritans’ Bolton branch, where Vicki volunteered regularly, said in a brief statement shared with The Bolton News:
“We are heartbroken at the loss of our friend and fellow volunteer. Vicki’s compassion and empathy touched countless lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family.”