Brierfield man dies after car is vandalised

AFTER vandals wrecked car windows on a street in Brierfield, one of the car owners collapsed while dealing with it and later died.

The tragic incident happened on Tuesday evening on Bird Street, and at least two cars had their windows smashed. There is belief a ball-bearing gun, knows as a BB gun, was used to cause the damage.

The victim – not yet named – is understood to be a 58-year-old resident on Bird Street.

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Detective Inspector Jim Elston said: “At 6-30pm, officers were deployed to Bird Street to reports two cars had had their windows smashed. An hour later, officers returned to Bird Street following reports a man had collapsed while cleaning the glass from the street.

“He was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but unfortunately died en route.

“His death is not being treated as suspicious but police are investigating the circumstances of his death and will be reporting to the coroner.”

And Det. Insp. Elston added: “Police are also investigating other incidents of criminal damage on a car and garage premises in the Birtwistle Close, Walter Street and Heyhead Street areas, and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incidents to come forward.

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“It is not yet known whether theses cases are linked, but people should call us on 101 if they have information that could assist us.”

A neighbour in Bird Street, who asked not to be named, said: “Me and my daughter came along the street and noticed car windows had been vandalised and felt ‘Oh, my God!’.” She then contacted neighbours whose cars were involved, and the police were alerted.

Later, neighbours were working on all the broken glass. She said: “My neighbour heard him collapse and came to our house, and he then rang for an ambulance.”

Neighbours including a nurse treated the victim, giving him CPR and he had a slight pulse when the ambulance arrived, but he died on his way to hospital.

The neighbour said: “It was a horrible night and a shock for everybody here.”