A pregnant mother-of-two killed on the M66 had a baby shower to celebrate finding out she was having a girl just a week before the horror crash, her devastated family have revealed.
Frankie Julia Hough, from Chadderton in Oldham, was driving southbound on the motorway, near Bury, with sons Tommy, nine, and Rocky, two, as well as four-year-old nephew Tobias also in the car.
After two days in hospital following the crash just after 3pm on Saturday, Frankie, 38, tragically died of her injuries on Monday.
Tommy and Tobias both remain in hospital in induced comas and are continuing to ‘fight’, her family said, while Rocky suffered minor injuries and is being looked after by loved ones.
Frankie, described as a ‘fierce mother with a heart of gold’, leaves behind her two boys and her partner Calvin.
Frankie Julia Hough, from Chadderton in Oldham, was driving southbound on the motorway, near Bury, with sons Tommy, nine, and Rocky, two, as well as four-year-old nephew Tobias also in the car
After two days in hospital after the crash just after 3pm on Saturday, Frankie, 38, tragically died of her injuries on Monday
Her family – including parents Julia and Frank, sister Becci and brother-in-law Arron – revealed she had just celebrated finding out she was due to have a baby girl days before her tragic death.
Arron told the Manchester Evening News: ‘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.
‘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.’
He said Frankie would now be ‘shining down’ on her son and nephew as they continue to fight in hospital and described his son Tobias – Frankie’s nephew – as a ‘little warrior’.
‘We don’t know what the outcome is going to be when he wakes up, we know he has had a head trauma. We’re hoping there will be no detriment to his long-term health, he is being a strong boy’, Arron said.
Tommy is also ‘making good progress’ but is still in an induced coma. His father is by his bedside.
Arron added: ‘We’re just going day-by-day and bit-by-bit and want out boys back. It’s good if people pray and it gets us through, we want that power and positivity.
‘We know she’s [Frankie] shining down on them now and bringing them through and showing us that she’s there and helping. She was just so strong-minded, if anyone was to go she would have picked herself.
‘We’ll carry her legacy on. We now need to bring our boys through.’
Frankie’s family thanked the first responders on the scene who were ‘amazing and professional’.
They also thanked the teams at Manchester Royal Infirmary who are caring for the boys and at Royal Preston Hospital who looked after Frankie.
Frankie, described as a ‘fierce mother with a heart of gold’, leaves behind her two boys and her partner Calvin
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family, with more than £38,000 raised so far.
Adil Iqbal, of Hope Street, Accrington, has been charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He appeared in court on Monday wearing a grey tracksuit and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Mr Iqbal was remanded into custody and a preliminary hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court is expected to take place on June 19. Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward.
Information can be shared by calling GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident 2254 of May 13, 2023, or online using the report tool on the force’s website.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
