A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving yesterday after his £100,000 Audi R8 crashed into a Ford Fiesta leaving one woman dead and another fighting for her life.
Rescue teams, including police, firefighters and ambulance crews, rushed to the scene of the crash in Hall Green, Birmingham, after the collision at 11.30pm on Monday.
The powerful sports car struck the Ford Fiesta which was carrying two women. Both women were taken to hospital.
One of the woman was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital while the other is still being treated for multiple injuries.
Horrified onlookers said the Audi R8 was travelling at around 80mph in a 30mph zone when it struck the Ford Fiesta head-on.
One witness, who took snaps of the crash scene, said: “To look at the state of the car I’d say it must have been a head-on collision, the car was smashed to pieces.
“For that kind of impact he must have been going at least 70 or maybe 80mph – I’m surprised there weren’t more fatalities.
“It seems to me as though it’s a young man having his first drive of an Audi R8, he’s got cocky and then panicked when he saw the Fiesta approaching.”
Police sealed off the junction of Shaftmoor Lane and Reddings Lane while crash investigators examined the wrecked cars.
The Audi driver, from Acocks Green in Birmingham, left the scene but handed himself into a police station at 3am yesterday where he was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Inspector Mark Watkins, from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit at West Midlands.
Police, said: “We have launched a full investigation into this collision, which has tragically cost the life of one lady and caused serious injuries to another.
“We urge anyone who was in the area, or saw the Audi R8 in the area before the collision, to contact us as a matter of urgency.”
Any witnesses are urged to contact the Regional Collision Investigation Unit at Central Motorway Police headquarters by dialling 101.
The woman in the blue Ford Fiesta who died when an Audi smashed into the car was a passenger in her late 40s.
West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls after the crash on the junction of the B4217 Shaftmoor Lane and Reddings Lane, Hall Green.
Two ambulances, a responder paramedic, a paramedic area support officer and a MERIT trauma doctor attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find two cars that had been in a significant collision.
“The passenger of one car, a woman, was in cardiac arrest and was being given CPR by police officers at the scene.
“Crews and the doctor took over resuscitation attempts and continued advanced life support on the woman.
“Sadly, despite efforts, nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed dead on scene a short time later.
“The driver of the same car, a woman believed to be in her 50s, sustained a serious chest injury.
“She was given pain relief before crews and the doctor worked with the fire service to extricate her from the wreckage.
“The woman was immobilised before being taken by land ambulance on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, the regional trauma centre, for further emergency treatment.
“The driver of the second car had left the scene prior to the arrival of the emergency services.”
Shocking pictures taken at the scene yesterday morning showed the wrecked white Audi R8 Spyder convertible with its bonnet crumpled up in the crash.
The force of the crash caused the blue Ford Fiesta to spin 360 degrees on the road smashing into two other parked cars.
Why is the Audi driver not named?
It’s important not to bring about reactionary policies like a ban on under 25’s with hi powered cars, not all young drivers are like this moron who has killed somebody.
It’s important not to bring about reactionary policies like a ban on under 25’s with hi powered cars, not all young drivers are like this moron who has killed somebody.
This junction is a hotspot for accidents, drivers approach at high speed and take too many chances. The highways agency, council and police know how many accidents occur, yet have done nothing to reduce the speed of traffic that approaches this accident blackspot. My thoughts and prayers are with the family may she RIP x