Woman in her 80's killed in Birmingham hit-and-run, driver arrested

Police have launched an investigation after a woman in her 80s died after a hit-and-run in Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham yesterday (5 April).

It is believed the woman was crossing the road near the junction of Mickleover Road when she was hit by a white car.

The tragic victim was treated by paramedics at the scene but sadly died from her injuries.

A police spokesperson confirmed the victim’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers at this difficult time.

A white VW Golf was found abandoned and recovered near the scene of the fatal accident and a 28-year-old man was later apprehended and arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in police custody as enquiries continue.

Officers are working to establish exactly what happened with a forensic examination of the scene carried out. CCTV has also been retrieved and is being reviewed.

A tragic hit-and-run accident involving a woman took place in Washwood Heath — The fatal hit-and-run in Washwood Heath has left local people deeply shocked and angered

Inspector Steve Radford of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This is a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the woman’s family at this awful time.

“I would ask anyone who has not yet spoken with us and was in the area at the time to get in contact.

“We’d also ask drivers who have dashcam or property owners with CCTV footage from around the time of the incident to get in touch.”

Police recovered the car which was involved in the accident

Reaction to the shocking hit-and-run has generated anger from local residents, and from the wider community, with people commenting on social media platforms and demanding more policing in the area and for harsher sentences for crimes involving speeding cars.

A Washwood Heath resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, told I Am Birmingham that there’s been an increase of drivers racing in the area during lockdown when the roads were quieter, and this racing trend has continued despite lockdown rules being lifted and more traffic appearing on the roads.

The 27-year-old father of two said: “It’s insanity. These speeding lunatics treat the roads as their private racing tracks. Night times are especially dangerous.

“Traffic lights, or zebra crossings, have no meaning for these crazy drivers. They simply whizz through the lights.

“There’s been three traffic related deaths around the Fox and Goose junction, and now we have an elderly lady being killed.

“This is heartbreaking, and I pray the poilce and Birmingham City Council clamp down on dangerous and reckless drivers. We need tougher sentences.

“Some of the guys driving these high performance cars are literally kids. Parents need to take stock and look to their teenage sons.

“Unless immediate action is taken we’re going to see more pedestrians falling victim to dangerous drivers.”