Trafford News

Altrincham bike theft man killed in Wythenshawe smash

By Robert Downes

10:40am Tuesday 7th September 2010

A MOTORCYCLISTS who died after colliding with a van at the weekend had earlier been arrested by police in connection with a theft from a motorcycle showroom in Altrincham.

At 2.40pm on Saturday, police were called to Wythenshawe’s Greenbrow Road at its junction with Tuffley Road following reports a man, who had been riding a stolen off-road motorcycle, was in collision with a Toyota van.

Bobby Carl Hodgkins, 24, who had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, was taken to hospital with a serious head injury, but died a short time later.

Earlier in August, police were criticised for their failure to pursue offenders who’d stolen three motorbikes from the Manchester Motorbike Store on August 12, when three high performance motorcycles were stolen. Despite being spotted by police making their escape, police did not purse the thieves as none of the men were wearing helmets - in line with national policy.

Hodgkins has one of two men arrested by cops in relation to the theft.

Witnesses to the collision in Wythenshawe are asked to contact GMP’s Road Policing Unit on 0161 856 6173.

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