Pregnant mum died after ‘speeding’ BMW hit her when she pulled onto M66 hard shoulder to answer a call

A pregnant mum who suffered fatal injuries in a crash on the M66 was struck by a speeding motorist after she had pulled over onto the hard shoulder to answer a phone call, a pre-inquest hearing was told today.

Frankie Julia Hough, 38, from Chadderton in Oldham, was driving southbound on the motorway, near Bury, at around 3.10pm on Saturday, May 13, when she suffered serious injuries in the crash. She died in hospital two days later.

Today (Wednesday) as inquest proceedings formally started, it emerged Ms Hough had pulled over onto the hard shoulder of the M66 to answer a phone call when she was hit by a BMW.

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Adil Iqbal, 22, of Hope Street in Accrington, has been charged with one offence of causing death by dangerous driving and two offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

At the time of the crash Ms Hough was in the car with her two young sons, nine-year-old Tommy and two-year-old Rocky, and her four-year-old nephew Tobias. Rocky suffered minor injuries but the two other children remain in hospital.

At a pre-inquest hearing held at Rochdale Coroners’ Court today (Wednesday), police coroners’ officer Tracy Bunn confirmed Ms Hough’s full name, date of birth and address in Chadderton. She worked as a ‘reiki practitioner’.

The officer also confirmed Ms Hough was single and died at Royal Preston Hospital on May 15. She was formally identified at the hospital by her father Frank Hough to a police constable, the court heard.

Giving brief circumstances of the crash, coroners’ officer Bunn told the court: “Frankie was traveling on the M66 heading towards Manchester. Frankie pulled over to the hard shoulder. It’s believed at this time she was answering a phone call.

“A vehicle being driven at excessive speed lost control causing the vehicle to collide with the rear of Frankie’s car, causing it to rotate and come to rest in the main carriageway.”

The officer confirmed Ms Hough was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with life threatening injuries and died on May 15. A post mortem examination concluded she died of head injuries.

The court heard a male had been arrested and charged, and that an investigation into the crash by GMP was ‘ongoing’.

Assistant Coroner Matthew Cox adjourned inquest proceedings until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

The M.E.N. has previously reported tributes to Ms Hough who was described as a ‘fierce mother with a heart of gold’.

Her brother-in-law Arron Welby said: “She was the most amazing person, she had a heart of gold. She was a dedicated, fierce mother and she was a fighter for her kids.

“She was the best auntie. She was a shining light, she would protect her kids with everything she had.”

He added: “She was pregnant and was only just celebrating the week before with a baby shower when she found out she was having a little girl. It’s just so sad.”

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