Pensioner is killed in pile-up at crossroads

An elderly woman was killed and her husband suffered a suspected broken pelvis in a collision involving five cars on a busy Midland road.

Fire crews, paramedics and police were called to the A451 Stourbridge Road, at Ismere, near Kidderminster, just after 3pm yesterday.

West Mercia Police said five cars had been involved in the crash, although the initial serious impact was between two vehicles near the Caunsall/Churchill junctions.

Four land ambulances were sent while county air ambulances were scrambled from Strensham and Cosford but despite the efforts of paramedics, the elderly woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her husband, in his 80s, was flown to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. Three other people suffered minor injuries and one, the driver of the car which was involved in the initial smash, was taken to hospital.

A section of Stourbridge Road was sealed off from its junction with Park Gate Road for several hours while accident investigators collected evidence and the cars were recovered. It was still shut as darkness fell at around 9pm.

West Midlands Ambulance spokesman Chris Kowalik said two cars collided at the crossroads.

The other driver was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.