On Thursday, January 9, a tragic incident occurred in Wigan when a man was struck by a car on Pembroke Road in Marsh Green, just before 6am. Emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene, where the pedestrian was sadly pronounced dead.

The victim has been identified as Darryl Tomlinson, affectionately known as Daz. Friends and colleagues have described him as an 'easy going lad' with a 'heart of gold'.

Wigan Town FC, where Daz played, shared a heartfelt tribute: "This morning, we had the devastating news that Daz 'T' Tomlinson, aka Shaggy, has passed away in an accident. This is such a tragedy and has shocked many of us. Daz was part of our 1st open-age team and is one of the reasons we still have a team today."

The tribute continued, "He was an easy going lad who loved his football. Even though he wasn’t currently playing, he was a regular on the sidelines. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this very sad time."

Friends of Daz took to social media to express their condolences. One post read, “R.I.P Daz Tomlinson, mate. You will be sadly missed by many. Thoughts are with family at this sad time.”

Another friend wrote, "Rest in peace, Daz. A top lad who always had a smile on his face." A neighbour lamented the loss, saying, "Our street will never be the same again without seeing you in your blue dressing gown and slippers in the morning. You were one of the nicest lads I've ever met. Absolutely heartbroken."

The collision was reported at 5:58am on Thursday, with emergency services responding quickly. The area was cordoned off, and an evidence tent was erected as investigations commenced.

A woman in her 20s was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but has since been released on bail. Roads in the vicinity, including Kitt Green Road, were temporarily closed during the investigation, which has led authorities to urge any witnesses to come forward.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) stated, "Our Serious Collision Investigation Unit is appealing for information following this fatal incident. Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services, the pedestrian, a man in his 30s, passed away at the scene." They are particularly interested in any footage of the incident, including dashcam videos.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 0161 856 4741, or via LiveChat online, quoting log number 410 of January 9, 2025. Alternatively, tips can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.