Family pays tribute as hunt for Tipton hit-and-run driver continues

Pedestrian Darren Whitehouse, from Tipton, died after being hit by a car in St Mark's Road in the town at about 1.40pm on Saturday.

So far nobody has been arrested over Mr Whitehouse's death and the 43-year-old's family have spoken out to urge anyone with information to come forward.

The family said in a statement: “We are devastated at the sudden loss of Darren.

"We are so grateful for the support that the local community have shown to our family, thank you.

"If anyone has any information that may assist the investigation please contact the police directly.

"Whilst we struggle to come to terms with this devastating loss we would ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time."

Flowers, candles, notes, balloons and beer bottles have all been left at the scene in tribute to Mr Whitehouse.

The car believed to have hit him, a silver Infiniti, was found two miles away in Griffiths Street, Tipton, later on Saturday and is being examined by forensic specialists.

The car had been stolen in Rowley Regis last Wednesday and was using cloned plates at the time of the crash, police said.

The hit-and-run was one of two serious incidents within an hour of each other on St Mark's Road on Saturday.

As medics, including an air ambulance crew, were dealing with the hit-and-run, they were alerted to a stabbing at a shop 300 metres away at around 2.15pm and rushed to treat the victim.

The man had been seriously injured after an attack in Costcutter and was taken to hospital for further treatment.

The stabbing is not thought to be linked to Mr Whitehouse's death and the two incidents are being treated as separate incidents, West Midlands Police confirmed.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said two people were injured in the hit-and-run crash.

"We were initially called to reports of two men in collision with a car at the junction of Henderson Walk and St Mark's Road in Tipton at just before 1.50pm on Saturday," spokesman Murray MacGregor said.

"Two ambulances, two paramedic officers, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car were sent to the scene.

"Sadly, one man had suffered very significant injuries and it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene. A second man was assessed and after treatment was discharged at the scene.

"The trust subsequently got another 999 call at 2.20pm to a location about 300 metres away on St Marks Road to reports of a stabbing.

"One of the paramedic officers, and the crew of the air ambulance moved to this scene and an additional ambulance and paramedic officer were also sent.

"A man was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken to hospital on blue lights; the aircrew travelled on the ambulance due to the serious nature of the injuries."

Two fundraising pages set up for Mr Whitehouse's family and his funeral had raised a combined total of more than £1,900 by Monday lunchtime.

A message on one of the fundraisers explained how Mr Whitehouse's family had "had some bad news lately with deaths in the family, including losing their step dad , and their mother has fallen into ill health."

It added: "Lee and Daz were only saying the other day how their luck has got to change and now this happens? Could we all chip in please and try and take some of the burden from his nearest and dearest at this tragic time."

Police have urged anyone who was in the Tipton area on Saturday lunchtime and has dash-cam or cycle-cam footage to check to see if it shows the collision or if a silver car can be seen on the video. Any witnesses or people with information are asked to contact police online or on 101 quoting log number 1827 of February 27.

To donate to the fundraisers visit gofundme.com/f/darren-whitehouse or justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andrew-averill-2.