Man killed in Tipton hit-and-run shortly before stabbing on same road

A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run in the Black Country - before a man was stabbed in a shop on the same road half an hour later.

Police are hunting a hit-and-run driver after the man was struck by a car on St Mark's Road, Tipton, at around 1.45pm yesterday.

The victim has been named as Darren Whitehouse on a Just Giving fundraising page set up by friends, which read: “Darren was taken from us to soon, he was involved in a tragic hit and run accident in Tipton. I was good friends with Daz. I know they’ve had some bad news lately with deaths in the family, including losing their step dad. Could we all chip in please and try and take some of the burden from his nearest and dearest at this tragic time.” More than £700 had been raised last night. A cyclist was also hit by the car but was not seriously hurt.

The stabbing happened nearby at 2.15pm and victim is in hospital in a serious condition.

Paramedics attempted to revive the man but he couldn’t be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said it was currently unclear if the two incidents were connected and an investigation has been launched.

The car believed to have been involved in the hit-and-run was found two miles away in Griffiths Street, Tipton, and has been seized for forensic analysis.

Detectives are now trying to piece together exactly what happened on a day of shocking violence.

Officers said there were reports of "disorder" at the shop where the stabbing took place.

West Midlands Police Superintendent Chris Mallet, said: “Tragically a pedestrian has lost his life and my thoughts are with his family. We have a specialist family liaison officer working with them at this tragic time.

“Exactly what’s gone on is unclear at this stage but our inquiries are progressing at pace.

“We believe we have recovered the offending vehicle, a silver car, and that will be forensically examined. We have already started trawling CCTV and road cameras as we attempt to locate the hit-and-run driver.

“It’s too early to say at this stage whether there is any connection with the stabbing reported some 30 minutes later in the same street.

“We’re appealing for witnesses to get in touch to help us build up a picture of exactly what’s happened.”

Police have also urged anyone who was driving and cycling in the area and has dash- or cycle-cam video to check their footage to see if they have caught the incident on camera or a silver car making off from the scene.

And any witnesses are also asked to get in touch by calling 101 or messaging on Live Chat via WMP Online, quoting log 1827 from 27 Feb.