Notorious armed robber killed in motorbike crash after leaving life of crime behind
The 60-year-old died after his bike reportedly collided with a central reservation on a dual carriageway in Salford.
A former notorious armed robber who had steered away from a life of crime was killed when his motorbike crashed on a dual carriageway. Paava “Paul” Corkovic, 60, smashed into the central reservation in Salford on Saturday.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Albion Way, Pendleton, Salford, between Liverpool Road and Salford Crescent at around 6.10pm.
Officers said the crash involved a Green Kawasaki motorcycle that had been travelling in tandem with another motorcycle in the direction of Salford Crescent before colliding with the central reservation, the MEN reports.
Mr Corkovic once led a prolific gang that targeted security guards delivering and collecting cash at banks and supermarkets in the mid-1990s.
During a time when armed robbery was cynically considered Salford's greatest export, he was at the height of his criminal career. In recent years, however, he had turned away from his criminal past after spending much of his life in prison.
He secured a job, stayed out of trouble, and became a father again. But Saturday's crash saw the ex-criminal die at the scene.
A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been released on bail.
A close associate of Mr Corkovic said: "He had obtained his HGV licence and for the past two years had worked as a driver. He had a new partner and they have baby twins. He had made a new start."
Officers from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are appealing for witnesses to the crash or anybody with footage of the incident to come forward.
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Sergeant Matthew Waggett, from GMP’s SCIU, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who sadly lost his life in this collision. We also thank those who stopped at the scene to help and provide care to the victim.
“The investigation is in the very early stages and while we seek to understand the exact cause of the collision, we ask that anybody who saw the incident or may have captured the motorcycles in the locality around this time to come forward and help us understand what occurred.”