Two killed and three injured in West Midlands crashes

Two people were killed and three others injured in a number of crashes on roads across the West Midlands.

A man and woman died instantly when their powerful silver Mercedes hurtled off the road and tore down 20 yards of heavy metal railings on the approach to the Keyway island, near Willenhall.

A motorcyclist was airlifted to hospital after his vintage bike and a blue Citreon crashed outside Watling Street Primary School in Brownhills.

Meanwhile, a driver and his female passenger had a lucky escape when their Vauxhall Vectra left the M54 after the bonnet flew up in the fast lane.

Two Toyotas also crashed on the northbound carriageway of the M6, between junction 10 for Walsall and 10a at Essington, at 10am yesterday. No-one was hurt.

Police were today investigating the Willenhall smash. The E-class estate apparently spun out of control as the driver braked for the Portobello island before slamming into railings at 5.36am yesterday.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash.

Accident investigators were today returning to the Keyway Island l as they try and piece together the moments leading up to the fatal smash.

Officers believe the car spun out of control while braking for the island. The man and woman killed in the smash have not yet been identified.

Three rapid response vehicles, along with an ambulance crew, police and fire appliances attended the crash but nothing could be done to save the couple.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Catherine Hickman said today: "As far as we are aware only one vehicle was involved in the collision."

Accident investigators today appealed for witnesses of the crash to come forward.

The Willenhall Road was closed from the Portobello traffic island to Neachells Lane in both directions while the Keyway was shut from the roundabout to the junction with Bilston Lane.

Diversions were in operation for seven hours but there was no major congestion.

Meanwhile organisers of the Chasewater Transport Show said a serious crash, thought to have involved someone heading to the event, had cast a shadow over the day.

The rider suffered severe leg injuries in the collision outside Watling Street Primary on the junction of the A5 Watling Street and The Parade, Brownhills yesterday.He was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for emergency surgery.

Anybody with information about the Portobello crash can contact the West Midlands Police on 101.

The motorcyclist who crashed in Brownhills, at the junction of the A5 Watling Street and The Parade, underwent surgery for serious leg injuries. It is believed he was on his way to the Chasewater Transport Show when the smash happened, at 9am yesterday.

On the M54, the man and woman in the Vauxhall Vectra escaped with minor injuries in the accident at 12.25pm on Saturday.

By John Scott and Marion Brennan