Man dies after being hit by van near Birmingham Selfridges
A man has died after being hit by a van near Selfridges in Birmingham city centre.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by the van on Park Street, just metres away from the Selfridges car park, shortly before 11am today.
Park Street was cordoned off as a result and was expected to stay shut between Bordesley Street and Moor Street for several hours as police started their investigation.
Buses are being diverted and drivers have been warned to avoid the area.
The Selfridges car park is still accessible but Moor Street is only open for inbound traffic.
At the scene, a white Mercedes Sprinter-type van was stopped in the road under the railway bridge which carries the line from nearby Moor Street station.
David Thompson, 40, from Birmingham, witnessed desperate attempts to revive the injured man at the scene.
He said: “There was a guy lying in the road, and medics were doing resuscitation on him.
“Then the ambulance guys put a blanket over him, so I assumed that was it.”
He added: “There’s a few homeless people underneath that bridge.
“Nobody wants anything like that to happen, especially the week before Christmas.”
A driver who stopped at the scene is assisting police with their enquiries, West Midlands Police said.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Police are currently in Birmingham city centre following a fatal collision which happened just after 11am this morning.
"A man was struck by a vehicle at the junction of Park Street with Bordesley Street. The man’s next of kin are now being identified.
"Drivers are asked to avoid the Moor Street area if possible as roads are likely to be closed for a number of hours as enquiries continue.
"A driver who stopped at the scene is assisting with enquiries."
The area is busy with shoppers at this time of year, and the accident happened right outside the entrance to one of the Bullring shopping centre’s main car parks, opposite the Selfridges department store.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to discover the pedestrian, a man, in a critical condition.
“Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.
“The driver of the vehicle, a man, was assessed at the scene and taken to City Hospital.”
Anyone with information about the collision can call West Midlands Police on 101, quoting incident reference number 752 of December 16.
Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
