Driver is killed in head-on Walsall crash

Fire crews, police and paramedics were called to the crash between a Chrysler Crossfire and Peugeot 307 in Lichfield Road, near the town centre, at around 10.20pm yesterday.

The 48-year-old male driver of the Chrysler died at the scene, while three other women, were taken to hospital. A mother and daughter travelling in the Peugeot both had internal injuries and were taken to Walsall Manor Hospital where the driver, a woman in her 30s, remains in a critical condition today.

A woman, who had also been travelling in the Chrysler, suffered leg injuries and was taken to New Cross Hospital. Witness Karl Knowles, aged 22, said the drama unfolded just outside his flat in Lichfield Road, near to its junction with Hawley Close.

He said: "I was watching TV with my girlfriend when I heard a massive crash.

"We rushed outside. The man who died was dragged from his car by another man. He was still conscious at the time but died just afterwards. They had to force the door open to get him out. I was trying to help by stopping traffic. A lot of police, fire engines and ambulances came.

"The Peugeot was on a footpath and had mounted a neighbour's wall and the other car was in the middle of the road. The road was cordoned off and they put sand down because of a fuel leak."

Another Lichfield Road resident, Julie Churchill, 53, said: "I was just getting ready for bed when I heard an almighty smash nearby. Before you knew it, there were blue lights. The emergency services turned up really quickly. I'm upset someone died. That's really sad."

Watch commander Brian Worrallo, from Walsall fire station, said several people had tried to help at the scene: "The cars were in pretty bad condition. The driver of the Crossfire, who was a man, died at the scene and the others suffered multiple injuries and were taken to hospital."

A paramedic area support officer, the MERIT trauma team of a doctor and a critical care practitioner, the hazardous area response team and three ambulance crews attended the scene. West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Chris Kowalik said: "There were two people in each car.

"A man was confirmed dead at the scene. A woman who was in the same car had leg injuries. She was immobilised and was taken to New Cross Hospital. A mother and daughter from the other vehicle both had internal injuries. They were taken to Walsall Manor Hospital."

The road was closed until just before 3am this morning while police investigated the circumstances surrounding the crash. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call 101.

Meanwhile, messages of support have been sent to a youngster critically injured after being hit by a van in Wednesbury. The 13-year-old, named as James Birks, was crossing the A461 High Bullen when he was hit at around 5.15pm on Tuesday.

Another child, aged 10, suffered serious head injuries. Witnesses to the crash on the A461 High Bullen told how the scooter was stuck under the van.

James is a former pupil of Holyhead Primary School and is understood to attend nearby Wodensborough Community Technology College. Holyhead Primary School deputy headteacher Bally Kapoor said: "I used to teach James in year six and he is lovely. Extremely well mannered, a credit to the school."