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Police car crashes into shop in Bolton; residents evacuated over suspected gas leak

A police car responding to another incident collided with a vehicle and then a shop on Blackburn Road, Bolton, shortly before 12pm on Friday 2 October. Residents were evacuated over a suspected gas leak; no serious injuries were reported.

2 outlets · 1L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Daily Express
Image: Daily Mirror

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The story, neutrally told

A police car collided with another vehicle and then crashed into a shop on Blackburn Road, Bolton, shortly before 12pm on Friday 2 October, according to Greater Manchester Police. The police car was responding to a different incident with its blue lights on at the time. Greater Manchester Police said no serious injuries had been reported, and the Mirror reported that no injuries were reported at all.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said a strong smell of gas was reported after the crash, and that crews were working alongside Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service and Cadent. A cordon is in place because of a suspected gas leak, and residents have been evacuated. Blackburn Road is closed in both directions near the Asda supermarket in Astley Bridge.

The cause of the gas smell and the circumstances of the collision have not been reported, and the situation was still developing.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The Mirror leads with the evacuation and gas leak fears, adding detail from the fire service and Manchester Evening News.
Emphasis
The gas leak and evacuation; fire service statement and multi-agency response.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not say how the police car came to collide with the other vehicle.
Charged language
“Major evacuation”
For example
“Major evacuation in Bolton over 'gas leak' fears as police car crashes into shop” — Daily Mirror

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
The Express runs a live-blog style report leading on the police car hitting a shop, built mainly on the Greater Manchester Police statement.
Emphasis
The police car crash and the police statement.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not include the fire service statement or the strong smell of gas reported by it.
Charged language
“smashes into”
For example
“Bolton crash LIVE: Homes evacuated after police car smashes into shop” — Daily Express