At 4.48pm on Christmas Day, officers were called to reports of an altercation outside The Gate Street Bar and Grill on the corner of Moorgate Street during which a man in his 30s was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser.
The man has been named as 37-year-old Kirk Marsden, from Blackburn.
He is believed to have suffered multiple serious injuries. Kirk was then taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he died in the early hours of Boxing Day.
In a tribute, Kirk’s family wrote: “To our hero, spread your wings far and wide your partner Leanne and your babies love you millions. You really were like no other, goodnight ❤️ x
“Kirk you were a well-loved son, brother and uncle who will be sorely missed. Rest with your dad now in heaven x.”
Following enquiries, two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody at this time. They are a 58-year-old man of no fixed address and a 31-year-old man from Blackburn.
Police have a dedicated team of officers assigned to the case who have been carrying out enquiries in the local area since Christmas Day.
DCI Bryony Midgley, from the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “This incident has led to a man losing his life and first and foremost our thoughts remain with Kirk’s loved ones.
“The investigation team is making progress with their enquiries and have since recovered a Toyota Land Cruiser from a carpark in Brindle Street. We know that following the fatal collision, the Land Cruiser turned right onto Livesey Branch Road.
“I would ask anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell which covered the area between Livesey Branch Road and Brindle Street in between 4.48pm and 5pm on Christmas Day to check their footage to see if they have captured a Toyota Land Cruiser to make contact with my team.
“This is being treated as an isolated incident and we know there was an altercation in The Gate prior to the fatal incident outside. I would ask any witnesses we haven’t already spoken to or anybody with mobile phone footage to also make contact with my team.
“I am aware that news of this incident will cause some concern in the community. I’d like to reassure everyone that we have increased reassurance patrols in the area.”
Anyone with information or footage is asked to call 101, quoting log 747 of 27th December 2024.
