Christmas Day tragedy
Date published: 30 December 2010
A family is mourning the death of a father-of-three who died on Christmas Day.
Martin Burgess (46) from Milnrow Road, Shaw, is believed to have suffered a collapse at the wheel of his van at the junction of Crompton Way and Farrow Street.
Police were called at 8.45 pm and traffic officers discovered the van had left the road and hit a fence.
Mr Burgess’s 11-year-old daughter Stevie, who was a passenger in the van, was uninjured, and taken care of by passers-by until police arrived.
Mr Burgess was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
His widow Dawn said: “I’m just so grateful for the unknown couple who stayed and helped my daughter Stevie until the emergency services arrived.
“We don’t know who they are and I’d really like to thank them, and also PC Andy Whittaker.”
Mr Burgess also leaves two other children, Sheryle and Jamie.
Police have now passed the information to the Oldham Coroner, Simon Nelson.
