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

Father’s Day gift guide 2026: Best gifts for every type of dad

Father’s Day (June 21) is the perfect time to celebrate the people who make everyday moments feel special.  Whether he enjoys slow mornings with coffee,...

Building safety compliance: A growing concern for developers and investors

Building safety now sits at the centre of property development and investment decisions across the UK. Increased scrutiny from authorities and greater awareness among residents have...

UK SMEs Face Growing Employment Tribunal Threat as Case Numbers Continue to Climb

WARWICKSHIRE, UK, June 11, 2026 – UK small and medium-sized businesses are being urged to review their HR practices as employment tribunal claims continue...

How to choose the right cloud model for your company

Choosing the right cloud model is vital because it will affect performance, security, and cost. You must assess workload requirements, compliance needs and long-term scalability...
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

Building safety compliance: A growing concern for developers and investors

Building safety now sits at the centre of property development and investment decisions across the UK. Increased scrutiny from authorities and greater awareness among residents have...

Awaab Comply Appoints Housing Expert Danny Bird to Drive Awareness of Awaab’s Law

Awaab Comply, the specialist compliance and property safety platform supporting housing providers in meeting the requirements of Awaab's Law, has announced the appointment of...

Centre for Sight Celebrates Three Decades of Innovation in Vision Care with International Eye Health Summit

East Grinstead welcomed some of the world's foremost eye care specialists as Centre for Sight celebrated 30 years of delivering advanced vision treatment. Experts...

MotorDesk Rolls Out Latest Platform Enhancements for Independent Dealers

MotorDesk has launched its most recent set of platform improvements for May 2026, aimed at helping independent motor dealers work more efficiently. The update...

More News

Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month Marks the Start of Two New Charity Partnerships for Mobility in Motion

During Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, Mobility in Motion has announced that it has formed new partnerships with Steel Bones and Finding...

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...