Stourbridge man admits killing pedestrian while speeding

A police investigation has found Peter Price, 39, would not have died if the car which hit him as he crossed the road had been sticking to the speed limit as the crash would not have happened, a police investigation has found.

The findings come on the day a 31-year-old Stourbridge Omar Tariq man pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Mr Price, 39, was killed when he was hit by a white Mercedes E250 convertible as he crossed Hagley Road West, Quinton near to the junction of Stanley Road just after 9pm on Saturday 29 November last year.

A black box fitted to the car revealed that when struck, the car had been travelling at no less than 61mph along the road which has a 40mph speed limit.

This information, combined with an analysis of the scene by specialist crash investigators from West Midlands Police, showed that customer service agent, Tariq of Denton Road, would have been able to stop the car in time had he been doing the speed limit.

Instead, after ploughing into Mr Price who was returning home from a night with friends, Tariq failed to stop. Rather than help, Tariq drove a further third of a mile before pulling on to Birch Lane and calling the police.

Tariq had not been permitted nor insured to drive the car which was a courtesy car loaned to his 23-year-old girlfriend, also from Stourbridge following an accident.

His girlfriend, Parvinder Ubhi, 23, a health and safety officer of Jardine Close, was prosecuted for permitting use of the vehicle without valid insurance and obstructing the police in their execution of their duty by falsely claiming she was driving.

She pleaded guilty to both offences at an earlier magistrates' court hearing and received a 12 month community order with 150 hours unpaid work, 12 months supervision order and was disqualified from driving for one year.

In interview Tariq claimed that he had been driving towards Birmingham to collect his two sisters from work. He told officers that he "wasn't speeding or doing ridiculous speeds".

His false claims were initially supported by Ubhi who was in the passenger seat.

Sergeant Adam Green, from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit, said: "While Tariq's admission of guilt may go some way to help the family know that the killer of their loved one has been brought to justice, it must be very difficult for them to know that Peter would have lived if Tariq had been sticking to the speed limit.

"The fact is that speed limits are in place for a reason. The reason is that lives depend on it."

Despite the best efforts of passers-by, police officers and medics, Mr Price who lived on Hagley Road West, died at the scene as a result of his multiple serious injuries.

Throughout the investigation Mr Price's family ? who continue to grieve in private ? were supported by specialist family liaison officers.

Tariq will be sentenced on January 25, 2016.