'Friendly, barmaid died in chatty' hit-and-run as she crossed road

MUM HAD MOVED TO ESCAPE 'ABUSIVE' PARTNER, INQUEST TOLD

- JOHN SCHEERHOUT

A MOTHER-OF-TWO who had moved into temporary accommodation to escape an abusive partner died after she was struck by two cars as she crossed a road to visit a Tesco, an inquest heard.

Michelle Louise Barlow, 41, a barmaid, suffered catastrophic injuries after she stepped into the carriageway, struck first by a black Audi A8 which propelled her into the path of a Mercedes travelling in the opposite direction.

The inquest heard neither driver had time to react and despite brave efforts to revive her at the scene by passersby she died later at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The 'deplorable' Audi driver left the scene although he returned later, and he has not been charged with any serious offences connected to the fatality, the court was told. The collision happened when Michelle, originally from Bury, stepped into the road on a 30mph limit stretch of the A56 Chester Road in Old Trafford, close to a Tesco superstore, on July 22, 2023, just after 10.10pm.

Her mother Karen Barlow told an inquest at Stockport Coroners Court yesterday her daughter had only just moved into temporary hotel accommodation on Chester Road to escape an 'abusive' partner.

Describing her daughter, Karen said: "She was always a very friendly, chatty person. Everybody loved her. She was always laughing and happy. She was always that one."