Key Points
- A cyclist has died following a collision on Westwood Way, the A49 bypass in Wigan.
- The man who died was in his 30s and was later named by local reporting as Anthony Connor, aged 38.
- Emergency services attended the scene, but the cyclist was pronounced dead there.
- Greater Manchester Police said the collision happened on the night of 8 May 2026.
- Reports said the driver of the car was arrested after the crash.
- Some reports said the cyclist was believed to have been crossing the A49 at the time.
- The case has now been passed to the coroner.
Wigan (Manchester Mirror)May 14, 2026 – A cyclist who died after a collision on uk/local/wigan/">Wigan’s A49 bypass has been named as Anthony Connor, aged 38, with the case now passed to the coroner, according to local and national reporting.
Who was the cyclist?
As reported by local journalist coverage from Wigan Today, the cyclist who died in the collision was Anthony Connor, 38. The man had suffered fatal injuries after the crash on Westwood Way, which forms part of the A49 bypass in Wigan.
The naming of the victim followed earlier reports that described the cyclist only as a man in his 30s. That detail was later confirmed in local reporting, which also stated that the death had been reported to the coroner.
What happened on Westwood Way?
The collision happened on Westwood Way in Wigan on the evening of 8 May 2026, according to Greater Manchester Police reporting carried by multiple outlets. BBC News said the crash led to a major road closure in both directions, showing the seriousness of the incident and its effect on traffic in the area.The
Liverpool Echo reported that emergency services were called to the busy road after reports of a serious crash involving a cyclist and a car. The cyclist died at the scene despite efforts by emergency crews.
What do police say?
Greater Manchester Police said the incident is being investigated by its Serious Collision Investigation Unit. The force also said it believed the cyclist was crossing the road at the time of the crash.
Reports from local and regional media also said a driver was arrested after the collision. At this stage, the reporting available does not provide a full account of any charges or the outcome of that arrest.
How have reports described the scene?
BBC News reported that the crash caused Westwood Way to be closed in both directions, which indicates a significant disruption on a key road route. The Liverpool Echo described the road as a main route and said the crash involved a car striking a cyclist.
Other reporting added that police were appealing for information as part of the investigation. That suggests officers are still trying to establish the full circumstances of how the collision unfolded.
What details are still unclear?
The available reports do not set out a complete reconstruction of the crash. They do not confirm the precise position of the cyclist immediately before impact, beyond the police’s view that he may have been crossing the road.
The current reporting also does not provide a detailed statement from the driver or from witnesses. As a result, the investigation remains the main source for any further official clarification.
Background of the development
This development sits within a wider pattern of serious road collisions on major routes, where police often treat the scene as a full forensic investigation and ask the public for information. In this case, the road involved is Westwood Way, part of the A49 bypass in Wigan, which is a busy route used by motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
The reporting from BBC News, Liverpool Echo, Wigan Today, and related coverage shows the story moved from an initial crash alert to the naming of the victim and the transfer of the matter to the coroner. That sequence is typical in fatal collision cases, where early reports focus on emergency response before later reporting confirms identity and investigative steps.
Prediction
For local residents and road users in Wigan, the most immediate effect is likely to be continued concern about safety on the A49 bypass and similar busy routes. For cyclists, the case may renew attention on crossing points, visibility and the risks of riding near high-speed roads.
For motorists, the incident is a reminder that major routes can face sudden closure when serious collisions occur, with knock-on delays and disruption. For the wider public, any future police findings or coroner’s conclusions may shape how the crash is understood, but the current reporting does not yet support firm conclusions beyond the facts already confirmed.
