Man dies in Birmingham flyover hit and run

Dec 21 2007 By Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

A MAN has been killed in a hit and run road accident which closed one of the main routes into the centre of Birmingham today.

West Midlands Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which resulted in the Hockley Flyover being shut to traffic and emergency diversions put in place.

Police and ambulance crews were sent to the scene, at Hockley Hill, at about 2.40am today following the grim discovery, made by a passer-by.

The main Hockley Flyover, connecting the city centre to Handsworth, was closed in both directions for several hours.

It was only reopened to traffic shortly before 8am.

A police spokesman said: "We are appealing for information following a fatal non-stop road traffic collision this morning.

"The body of a man, believed to be in his 20s, was found in the road on the Hockley Flyover.

"The identity of the man is not known at this stage."

The spokesman added: "Inquiries are ongoing to try to trace any vehicles involved in this incident."

Roads in the vicinity of Hockley Flyover were closed overnight and reopened shortly before 8am today once the body had been removed and forensic examination of the area carried out.

The dead man's injuries are understood to be consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

Police will be scouring CCTV footage for any signs of suspicious vehicles speeding through the area, possibly having sustained damage to the front.

Anyone with any information about the incident, or the vehicle that may have been involved, is urged to contact the road policing unit at Walsall Road police station in Perry Barr on 0845 113 5000, or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.