Manhunt for Porsche driver as tributes flood in for boy, 2, who died after Smethwick hit-and-run

The child was found by ambulance staff in a critical condition following the collision on Dartmouth Road just before 11pm on Saturday (December 14).

He was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital but despite the efforts of emergency services, tragically died.

Four others including a woman, aged 29, and a 30-year-old man were taken to hospital where they remained in a serious condition on Monday afternoon, a spokesman for West Midlands Police said.

Another woman, aged 30, was also taken to hospital but has since been discharged while a second man, also aged 30, is continuing to receive treatment, the spokesman added.

A grey Porsche Cayenne involved in the crash - believed to have been stolen earlier this month - fled the scene, prompting an appeal by police for the person behind the wheel to come forward.

'This has broken my heart'

Tributes have flooded in on social media for the young boy who lost his life following the collision, as people have urged the driver to "do the right thing".

Writing to Facebook, Janet Baker said: "How tragic. My heart goes out to the poor family who lost their little one. Just heart breaking. Hope those injured recover soon.

"Thinking too of all those from the emergency services who had to deal with the aftermath of such devastation. You have my utmost admiration for the work you do.

"Hope the driver finds some semblance of humanity and hands themselves in...Do the right thing."

Belinda Tesse called for "tougher sentences" following the fatal crash.

She wrote: "Please we need tougher sentences. This is someone's loved ones who were minding their own business and their life’s get shattered and the people/person who caused it will be treated with dignity and respect and will get support. It’s so wrong."

Anne Jones added: "This has broken my heart. There's a mummy and daddy out there who were getting all excited about their little boy's second Christmas, who had hopes and dreams for his future, who would give the world to have not been where they were when this terrible tragedy struck. Do the right thing and hand yourself in!"

Cath Hodgson said the news of the boy's death was "heart breaking".

She wrote: "Do the right thing and take responsibility u have taken a child's life and left a family devastated thinking of the parents and family of this little one - heart breaking for any parent to lose a child."

Cecilia Kaur said it was "so sad". She added: "Heart breaking news. Thoughts are with the family. Rest in peace little angel. Hope the driver is caught and a rough sentence is given." 

Dartmouth Road, off Kenrick Way, was closed in both directions while police worked at the scene but later reopened.

West Bromwich MP Sarah Coombes raised concerns in Parliament just last month about the "danger" of Kenrick Way.

Reacting to the news of the fatal collision, she said: "I am devastated to hear the horrific news of the death of a two-year-old boy in a crash just off Kenrick Way.

"It is less than three weeks since I raised the danger on this exact stretch of road in Parliament. I will continue to fight for better road safety in our area to prevent more tragic deaths.

"...I will keep working with the police and the council until something is done and our streets are made safer."

Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at West Midlands Police said in a statement on Sunday: "Our thoughts remain with the family of the little boy at this extremely difficult time.

“I would urge the driver of the Porsche to do the right thing and come and talk to us. They made the wrong decision to run away and I’m asking them now to make the right one.

"I also want to appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision and hasn’t already spoken to us, or has CCTV or dash-cam footage to get in touch."

Anyone with information should contact SCIU@westmidlands.police.uk, call 101 or get in touch via Live Chat on the West Midlands Police website between 8am and midnight, quoting log 4421 of December 14.