This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/17/six-dead-in-birmingham-crash

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Six dead in Birmingham crash involving six vehicles Six dead in Birmingham crash involving six vehicles
(35 minutes later)
Six people have died and a seventh is critically injured after a crash involving six vehicles in Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to the West Midlands ambulance service. Six people have been killed and a seventh critically injured after a multi-vehicle crash in Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The crash happened at about 1.10am at the entrance to the underpass on Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston, at the junction of Bristol Road. West Midlands ambulance service said six cars, including a black cab, were involved in the collision in an underpass on Lee Bank Middleway at 1.10am.
Five ambulances and three paramedics were sent to the scene. The road will remain closed on Sunday. The six who died at the scene included the driver of the taxi and his two passengers, a man and a woman, as well as three men who were thrown from a car during the collision.
An ambulance service spokesman said a man and woman in the first car managed to escape with “relatively minor injuries”, and were taken to Heartlands hospital. West Midlands police has launched an investigation into what it described as the “very difficult and upsetting” circumstances of the collision and asked witnesses to contact the force on 101.
He added: “The second vehicle, a black cab, was on its side. A West Midlands ambulance service spokesman described the crash scene as “extremely complex and distressing” and that it involved three primary cars, plus another three who tried to avoid the earlier collision.
“Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the driver and he was confirmed dead at the scene. The man and woman in the back were rapidly extricated. He said: “There were six vehicles involved in the crash scene, which was extensive.
“Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the woman and she was also confirmed dead at the scene. “In the first car there were a man and a woman. The vehicle had suffered very extensive damage but astonishingly, despite the damage, the pair had managed to get out and had suffered relatively minor injuries. They were taken to Heartlands hospital by ambulance for further assessment.
“The man was taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth hospital Birmingham with the Merit trauma doctor travelling with the crew. Sadly, he died at hospital.” “The second vehicle, a black cab was on its side. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the driver and he was confirmed dead at the scene. The man and woman in the back were rapidly extricated.
There were four men in the third car, the spokesman said, three of whom were confirmed dead at the scene. “Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the woman and she was also confirmed dead at the scene. The man was taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth hospital Birmingham with the Merit trauma doctor travelling with the crew. Sadly, he died at hospital.”
The fourth was taken to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth hospital Birmingham in a critical condition. “There were four men from the third car. All had been ejected. Tragically, three of them were confirmed dead at the scene. The fourth was also taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth hospital Birmingham with the critical care car doctor travelling with the crew. He was said to be in a critical condition on arrival.”
Of those travelling in the three other cars involved in the crash, a man and a woman were treated for minor injuries, one man was discharged after assessment and another said he did not require any assistance. There were three further cars involved in a pile-up which had tried to avoid the crash scene, the spokesman said. From these cars, only two suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital.
Two ambulances were on scene within seven minutes and in total, five ambulances, three paramedic officers, the hazardous area response team, a trauma doctor and the air ambulance were all sent to the scene.
Police told the public the road was expected to be closed for a “very long time”:Police told the public the road was expected to be closed for a “very long time”:
Police, @WestMidsFire & @OFFICIALWMAS are responding to a very serious crash on Lee Bank Middleway in Edgbaston, Birmingham near to the tunnel which goes beneath Bristol Street. Call received at 1.11am Sun 17/12. Avoid area. Road will be closed for a very long time.Police, @WestMidsFire & @OFFICIALWMAS are responding to a very serious crash on Lee Bank Middleway in Edgbaston, Birmingham near to the tunnel which goes beneath Bristol Street. Call received at 1.11am Sun 17/12. Avoid area. Road will be closed for a very long time.