Traffic lights at a junction where three people were hurt in a smash weren't working because of a lightning strike, it is thought.
A Mercedes collided with a motorbike on the Stockport road on Wednesday morning.
The incident happened at the junction of Springs Gardens and St Mary's Way in Offerton just before 9.35am.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) reported traffic lights at the junction were 'all out' at 8.15am.
Three people were taken to hospital following the smash.
The bike rider and a pillion passenger both suffered major trauma injuries to the head, neck and leg.
The car driver was also hurt.
Police and paramedics were scrambled to the scene, as was an air ambulance.
A spokesperson for GMP said: "Officers were called just before 9.35am today (Wednesday 12 May) to Spring Gardens, Stockport to a report of a collision involving multiple cars and a motorbike."
A NWAS spokesperson added: "Three patients have been taken to hospital, by road.
“The bike rider (male) and pillion passenger (male, 40s) both suffered major trauma with injuries to head, neck and leg.
"The car driver, (male) also suffered injuries to the head and neck."
A witness said: “I was in the lane opposite the Mercedes and I saw it all happen.
“I pulled my car over and ran straight over.
"A lorry driver had got the guy’s backpack and put it underneath his leg to support him.
“I was talking to the man on the bike, trying to distract him from the pain, asking him about his job and reminding him to breathe."
TfGM said it was aware the traffic lights were out at the time of the incident. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
In a statement, TfGM said they were made aware the lights at the junction were faulty at 5.55am.
The traffic lights were not working again until 1.30pm.
A spokesperson for TfGM said: “The signals were reported as faulty at 5.55am this morning and the issue is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, which melted the isolating switch.
“Engineers have been on site since this morning and were awaiting a replacement switch to fix the signals, which have been fully operational since 1.30pm.”
The incident also led to congestion on the A626. The road reopened at approximately 12pm.
