A TEENAGE girl suffered a suspected broken neck in a quad bike crash.

The 17-year-old rider was rushed to Tameside General Hospital, where she is still being treated.

She is believed to have been the passenger on the bike being driven by a 16-year-old female friend on Buckton Vale Road, Stalybridge. The younger girl lost control of the vehicle at 10.40 last night and both girls hit parked cars.

The 16-year-old suffered facial and arm injuries and was also taken to hospital. She was later discharged.

Police were unable to confirm whether the bike involved in this latest incident had any licence plates.

One resident on the street said they had heard loud screams and laughter before the incident.

He said: “There were four of them, two boys and two girls, taking it in turns to race up and down the road.

Racetrack

“I didn’t think anything of it because this road is like a racetrack at times, but then there was an almighty bang. We looked out and could see the two injured girls and within minutes the police and ambulances had arrived.”

Another said: “An accident has been waiting to happen on this road.

“There are restrictions and signs everywhere warning drivers to kill their speed.

“But kids are always racing up and down and to be honest, I’m not surprised something like this has happened.”

It is the latest in a string of serious accidents and tragedies involving quad bikes on our roads. The Manchester Evening News has been campaigning for all off-road vehicles – including quads – to be properly registered.

The M.E.N. has previously revealed how off-road bikes are responsible for 26,000 complaints to Greater Manchester Police every year – an average of more than 70 a day.

Blackley MP Graham Stringer tabled a private member’s bill to try to force all off-road motorcycles and quad bikes to carry number plates.

The measure was effectively killed off when it ran out of parliamentary time in July.

But Mr Stringer said a lot had been achieved. The government has agreed to set up an inter-departmental task force on the issue, with Mr Stringer as a member.

Anyone with information about the latest incident is asked to get in touch with police on 0161 856 8809.