Cyclist airlifted to hospital after crash on Birmingham New Road

A cyclist was airlifted to hospital after a crash that caused long rush hour tailbacks on a main commuter route through the Black Country.

The 41-year-old man is understood to have been at a crossing near the junction of Sedgley Road West and Birmingham New Road on the Dudley/Tipton border when he collided with a small van. The cyclist suffered pelvic, back and abdominal injuries. It is believed he was not wearing a cycle helmet.

The crash yesterday caused huge disruption to traffic with police closing parts of both roads while they carried out inquiries.

The Birmingham New Road, which runs between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, was shut for about three hours. At one point traffic stretched back to Dudley town centre.

Sgt Paul Hughes said they believed the crash happened as the small van pulled out of Sedgley Road West.

"We had to keep the roads closed in order to preserve the scene," he said.

Drivers were diverted through Woodsetton and Coseley while the scene was cleared.

Queues stretched through Parkfields in Wolverhampton and back to the Burnt Tree junction in Dudley, with traffic also building up around the town's Castle Gate island.

The road was shut in both directions for about an hour to allow the air ambulance to land, and the Wolverhampton-bound carriageway was shut for about another two hours.

Police spokeswoman Gina Lycett said: "Police were called by the ambulance service to a collision involving a man and a car in Birmingham New Road, Dudley just after 5.10pm.

"The 41-year-old man was taken to hospital where he was treated for his injuries which are not believed to be life threatening." Birmingham New Road at the junction with Sedgley Road West was re-opened just after 8pm."