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| Birmingham: six dead in crash involving six vehicles | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Six people have been killed and a seventh was critically injured in a crash involving several cars in Birmingham. | Six people have been killed and a seventh was critically injured in a crash involving several cars in Birmingham. |
| West Midlands ambulance service said six cars, including a seven-seater taxi, were involved in the collision in an underpass on Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston, at 1.10am on Sunday. | West Midlands ambulance service said six cars, including a seven-seater taxi, were involved in the collision in an underpass on Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston, at 1.10am 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. | 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. |
| West Midlands police launched an investigation into what they described as the “very difficult and upsetting” circumstances of the collision and asked witnesses to make contact on 101. | West Midlands police launched an investigation into what they described as the “very difficult and upsetting” circumstances of the collision and asked witnesses to make contact on 101. |
| A West Midlands ambulance service spokesman described the crash scene as “extremely complex and distressing” and said it involved three cars initially, plus another three that tried to avoid the earlier collision. | A West Midlands ambulance service spokesman described the crash scene as “extremely complex and distressing” and said it involved three cars initially, plus another three that tried to avoid the earlier collision. |
| He said: “There were six vehicles involved in the crash scene, which was extensive. 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. | He said: “There were six vehicles involved in the crash scene, which was extensive. 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 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. | “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. |
| “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. | “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. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| The three further cars were involved in a pile-up after an attempt to avoid the crash scene, the spokesman said. From these cars, two people sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital. | The three further cars were involved in a pile-up after an attempt to avoid the crash scene, the spokesman said. From these cars, two people sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital. |
| Two ambulances were on scene within seven minutes, and a total of five ambulances, three paramedic officers, the hazardous area response team, a trauma doctor and the air ambulance were sent to the scene. | Two ambulances were on scene within seven minutes, and a total of five ambulances, three paramedic officers, the hazardous area response team, a trauma doctor and the air ambulance were sent to the scene. |
| The crash happened on one of the busiest nights of the year as Christmas revellers made their way home on one of Birmingham’s busiest roads. | The crash happened on one of the busiest nights of the year as Christmas revellers made their way home on one of Birmingham’s busiest roads. |
| In a press conference at West Midlands police headquarters on Sunday afternoon, Superintendent Sean Phillips said specialist officers would investigate the speed the cars were travelling, whether all passengers had been wearing seatbelts, and the road conditions at the time of the “very harrowing” accident. | |
| He said the road had been gritted at 5pm on Saturday night, eight hours before the crash, as temperatures dropped below zero. He declined to say whether speeding might have been a factor on the 40mph road, where locals said there had long been a problem with racing. | |
| Phillips added: “It is way too early to speculate on the causes of the accident. It will take some time to unpick the scene and understand exactly what’s happened. What I can say is that we’re looking at all sorts of conditions including road conditions - we’re aware the road was gritted at 5pm last night - but that’s just one factor of many we’re considering. | |
| “There are a whole host of questions that I’m sure we all want answered - particularly most importantly, the families of those involved. We need to go through the procedures with a dedicated team of specialist officers and as soon as we have that information it will be released as soon as possible to those involved.” | |
| A passerby who asked not to be named said: “It is really horrific. When I saw the scene it reminded me of the pictures of Diana’s car crash. | A passerby who asked not to be named said: “It is really horrific. When I saw the scene it reminded me of the pictures of Diana’s car crash. |
| “A man turned up here and said the police had knocked on his door this morning and told him one of his relatives had died in the crash. He didn’t know what had happened to the second person in the car so he was at the scene trying to find out. It must have been horrendous for him. People have told me there were bodies scattered across the carriageway.” | “A man turned up here and said the police had knocked on his door this morning and told him one of his relatives had died in the crash. He didn’t know what had happened to the second person in the car so he was at the scene trying to find out. It must have been horrendous for him. People have told me there were bodies scattered across the carriageway.” |
| A local resident said she had rushed outside to try to help after hearing a “massive bang” near the entrance to the underpass. She said the scene was of “absolute carnage”. | A local resident said she had rushed outside to try to help after hearing a “massive bang” near the entrance to the underpass. She said the scene was of “absolute carnage”. |
| “The emergency services arrived almost immediately and I asked if there was anything I could do, but they said it was best just to keep clear,” she said. “I just couldn’t get it out of my mind [afterwards], it was haunting. There was lots of vehicles that were facing the wrong way. Clearly as more cars came along there had been accidents with people trying to stop in time.” | “The emergency services arrived almost immediately and I asked if there was anything I could do, but they said it was best just to keep clear,” she said. “I just couldn’t get it out of my mind [afterwards], it was haunting. There was lots of vehicles that were facing the wrong way. Clearly as more cars came along there had been accidents with people trying to stop in time.” |
| The woman, who declined to be named, said people were standing around “in shock” as emergency services tried to rescue people. | The woman, who declined to be named, said people were standing around “in shock” as emergency services tried to rescue people. |
| She added: “The main crash was absolutely awful. The taxi was upturned and caved in. I heard cutting and drilling, which was obviously the emergency services trying to get the victims out. | She added: “The main crash was absolutely awful. The taxi was upturned and caved in. I heard cutting and drilling, which was obviously the emergency services trying to get the victims out. |
| “It was horrible. You feel shocked, distressed and helpless and I’m not the kind of person to run out into the street in the middle of the night, but I knew it was bad. | “It was horrible. You feel shocked, distressed and helpless and I’m not the kind of person to run out into the street in the middle of the night, but I knew it was bad. |
| “It’s just so sad. I really do feel for them. I know at any time it’s bad, but it just seems so bad because it’s Christmas time. I just hope that the ones who had got out alive do recover soon and that the families are coping OK.” | “It’s just so sad. I really do feel for them. I know at any time it’s bad, but it just seems so bad because it’s Christmas time. I just hope that the ones who had got out alive do recover soon and that the families are coping OK.” |
| Another passerby, Wayne Hopkins, 64, from the Hall Green area of Birmingham, said: “People use this road as a racetrack, it’s so dangerous. I can’t believe this has happened. It’s awful, especially as it’s so close to Christmas.” | Another passerby, Wayne Hopkins, 64, from the Hall Green area of Birmingham, said: “People use this road as a racetrack, it’s so dangerous. I can’t believe this has happened. It’s awful, especially as it’s so close to Christmas.” |
| The West Midlands fire service said 40 firefighters helped in the aftermath of the crash. | The West Midlands fire service said 40 firefighters helped in the aftermath of the crash. |
| Area commander Jason Campbell said: “The first West Midlands fire service crews arrived in less than four minutes and were met with a complex scene, spread over some distance. Our firefighters’ actions involved stabilising vehicles, releasing the dead and injured, as well as administering CPR and first aid. | Area commander Jason Campbell said: “The first West Midlands fire service crews arrived in less than four minutes and were met with a complex scene, spread over some distance. Our firefighters’ actions involved stabilising vehicles, releasing the dead and injured, as well as administering CPR and first aid. |
| “All of the emergency services worked together and coordinated their response in extremely challenging circumstances, doing all they possibly could to minimise the loss of life.” | “All of the emergency services worked together and coordinated their response in extremely challenging circumstances, doing all they possibly could to minimise the loss of life.” |
| Sgt Alan Hands, of West Midlands police, offered the force’s condolences to those affected by the crash. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the families of those who have very sadly lost their lives this morning and those who have been injured or caught up in this incident,” he said. | Sgt Alan Hands, of West Midlands police, offered the force’s condolences to those affected by the crash. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the families of those who have very sadly lost their lives this morning and those who have been injured or caught up in this incident,” he said. |