BlogTribute paid to mum and son killed days before Christmas

Tribute paid to mum and son killed days before Christmas

The family of a parent and son who died in a road traffic collision in Oldham days before Christmas have paid their own tribute.

Clair (42) and Sam (15) sadly passed away as a result of their injuries at the scene of a serious road traffic on Ripponden Road.

Officers are still appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following the incident at around 4pm on December 23.

Police had received reports of two vehicles near Denshaw, being in collision.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody for questioning.

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 before the collision took place.

Tribute

Their family have said: “Clair was a smart, loving parent, daughter and sister who would do anything for anyone.

“Prior to the pandemic, Clair worked at the Bolton Theatre, supporting those facing Mental Health challenges.

“She loved going to pottery class every week and was such a creative person and she could go from a lump of clay to making whatever she put her mind to.”

“Sam was in Year 11, looking forward to studying music at college; he loved to sing and to play the drums. Listening to music was one of Sam’s favourite things to do, he was always around the house with his headphones on.

“When Sam wasn’t listening to music, he could be found in a world of his own playing on his computer. Sam’s family meant the world to him; he was a brother and son whose loss will leave a hole in our family forever.”

They added that Christmas without Sam and Clair would be immensely difficult for everybody who knew them both.

PC Thomas Johnson, of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our thoughts continue to remain with their family who are being supported by officers at this really difficult time.

“If you can help or have any information that may assist our enquiries, then please contact our Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident 2304 of 23/12/2023.

Helen Greaney
Helen Greaney
I'm a journalist with more than 18 years' experience on local, regional and national newspapers, as well as PR and digital marketing. Crime and the courts is my specialist area but I'm also keen to hear your stories concerning Manchester and the greater North West region.
Latest

Morson Group and University of Salford mark 10 years of partnership supporting STEM talent

Morson Group has marked ten years of partnership with the University of Salford, celebrating a collaboration that has helped develop engineering and industrial talent...

Leading Cheshire dermatologist brings revolutionary new acne treatment to the North West

Award-winning Cheshire dermatologist, Dr Nicole Chiang, has brought a pioneering NEW acne treatment to the North West for the first time. Dr Nicole (pictured) and...

Leeds as a northern business hub: The impact of flexible workspaces

Leeds has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s leading regional business centres, attracting companies from across sectors including finance, technology, legal services...

Ways to reduce your car insurance costs

Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, so it must be included in your essential expenditure. When it’s time to renew your car...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

Morson Group and University of Salford mark 10 years of partnership supporting STEM talent

Morson Group has marked ten years of partnership with the University of Salford, celebrating a collaboration that has helped develop engineering and industrial talent...

Ways to reduce your car insurance costs

Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, so it must be included in your essential expenditure. When it’s time to renew your car...

Manchester’s tech boom brings a hidden challenge: IT equipment disposal

Manchester has cemented its place as the UK’s leading tech city outside London. MediaCityUK in Salford, the Oxford Road innovation corridor, the growing cluster of...

Surge in AI Video Briefs Signals Changing Landscape for BearJam

BearJam has experienced a marked increase in requests for AI video work, growing from just one client brief in April 2025 to twelve by...

More News

Surprising ways you might be putting your phone at risk

We use our smartphones for everything. Checking traffic, catching up with friends, browsing the sales… they’re our instant source of information. But these devices also provide...

5 Essential health and safety tips for UK workplaces

If you want to keep a UK workplace safe and legally compliant right now, you need to focus on five specific pillars which are...

‘New Maximalism’ set to dominate as Hancocks Jewellers releases 2026 trend outlook

Independent jewellery house Hancocks Jewellers has released its annual trend report, highlighting a major move towards “The New Maximalism”. The forecast points to a...