A suspected hit and run driver has been arrested after a man was struck at high speed and left with severe fractures to his legs, body and face at a Bolton takeaway.
The 32-year-old victim remains in hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries after he was run over following an altercation, which may have involved alleged ‘racist remarks’ between two groups in the car park of McDonald’s on Derby Street, Bolton.
A 19-year-old man was later arrested and remains in police custody for questioning on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision and failing to report a road traffic collision.
Detective Inspector Sarah May said: “At this stage, our investigation is focused on establishing exactly what sparked this confrontation and the exact details of what led up to this man being struck by a moving car and suffering a number of fractures to his face and body.
“He is currently receiving treatment in hospital and although his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening clearly he has suffered numerous serious injuries so we need to understand exactly what has happened and why.
“We are also investigating the possibility racist remarks were made during the argument.”
The incident took place at about 11.40pm on Friday July 5 when the victim and a group of friends became embroiled in a verbal confrontation with another group at the restaurant.
The group then split up into two separate cars and while one drove off, the second one drove at speed and struck the victim.
Neither car stopped at the scene following the incident.
Police are now investigating the circumstances leading up to the assault and will be seizing CCTV in the coming days.
The offender was said to be white and his group of friends consisted of another white man and two women, also white.
DI May said: “I would strongly urge those people to call us and tell us what they know.
“We will be reviewing CCTV in the coming days but I would still encourage anyone who has information to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5595 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
