Man dies in Hagley Road crash

Sep 24 2008 By Kat Keogh

A MAN died and a woman was seriously injured when their car ploughed into a tree in Birmingham today, causing traffic chaos for thousands of rush hour motorists.

The vehicle left Hagley Road at Ladywood Middleway, with the impact of the crash leaving it wedged on its side between the tree and a wall.

The Seat Leon was being driven along the Hagley Road towards Fiveways traffic island when the male driver apparently lost control.

It then collided with a tree in a clump of trees and bushes on the side of the road at 3am.

Firefighters using cutting gear released the female passenger as paramedics gave emergency first aid to both victims.

The location made it difficult for the emergency services to free the man and police erected a tent and screens around the crash site while the body of the driver, who has not yet been named, was recovered.

The man’s body remained in the wreckage for several hours after the crash.

Fire and ambulance crews were at the crash scene with minutes and firefighters were later using hydraulic lifting equipment in a bid to recover the vehicle.

Police closed off the inbound stretch of Hagley Road up to Five Ways Island with police directing motorists to the underpass under Five Ways Island to ease congestion. The road, one of the busiest in the city, remained closed during the morning.

The crash survivor was taken to City Hospital. Police are now appealing for witnesses.

A police spokesman said: “The body of a man, believed to be the driver, has been recovered from the vehicle. The man has yet to be formally identified and his next of kin are being informed. A woman passenger was earlier taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.”

Witnesses are urged to ring 0845 113 5000 and ask to speak to officers in the Road Policing Unit at Rose Road police station in Harborne.

n Two lanes of the M6 motorway were closed for about two hours following a pile-up involving six cars and two lorries near Castle Bromwich. The crash, on the northbound carriageway between junctions 5 and 6 shortly before 7pm yesterday, left two men injured.