Tributes pour into man who died after crossing the road in horror hit-and-run - his coward killer is still on the run

26.01.2022 - 10:25 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

A man who died after a 'hit and run' in Rochdale had just secured a new flat and was "excited about the future", friends have said.

Jason Goostrey, 50, was crossing Milnrow Road earlier this month when he was struck by a Skoda Octavia. The car sped off after the crash, with its driver still on the run.

Jason was rushed to hospital following the horror crash on Thursday January, 6, but died of his injuries several days later.

No arrests have been made yet, GMP have said.

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Family friends have now paid tribute to Jason, describing him as a 'pleasant guy' who was very popular in the Belfield area of the town where he hailed from.

Martina Smith, whose dad was close friends with Jason, said: "I live a few doors down from his mum.

"And he used to go round every morning and do her cleaning. and then he would come out and stand in the front garden.

"He was always chatting, whistling and singing and she would pass him a bacon butty through the window.

"That was his routine.

"And he would always throw sweets to my kids when he walked past. My kids loved him. He was just a lovely, pleasant guy."

A brown Skoda had overtaken another car and crossed into the opposite carriageway before turning off Chichester Street and onto Milnrow Road shortly before the crash, at around 4.40pm on Thursday, January 6, police said.

It was this point it collided with Mr Goostrey, who was crossing the road.

The car did not remain at the scene and was later found abandoned on Percy Street in Rochdale.

The investigation is ongoing but no arrests have yet been made, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed.

An inquest into Jason's death was opened at