Man killed by a lorry moments after ‘being chased with hammer’ at a CAR WASH

Police have launched a major investigation after a man was killed by a lorry just moments after being involved in a dispute at a CAR WASH.

The 26-year-old, who has not been named, was struck by the HGV in Quarry Bank, West Mids., on Tuesday afternoon.

Police confirmed he had been involved in an argument with a man at Formula 1 Hand Car Wash seconds before he was hit.

Cops yesterday arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the death.

Detectives detained the man at an address in Quarry Bank, near to where the collision happened.

Eyewitnesses revealed that the victim had been fleeing an attacker wielding a HAMMER before being struck by the seven tonne vehicle.

Paramedics rushed to Thorns Road at around 3.30pm but despite their best efforts the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Sergeant Jim Munro, from West Midlands Police, said: “This collision happened at a busy time in the afternoon and I know there would have been a number of people in the area that witnessed it.

“I’m also keen to hear from anyone who has any information about the dispute the man was involved in just before the collision.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service added: “Crews arrived to find a pedestrian in a collision with a lorry.

“Despite the efforts of ambulance staff at the scene, it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

The busy dual carriageway was closed for more than four hours in both directions while police carried out investigations.

Mum-of-two Samantha Bowskill, who lives nearby, said: “The first we knew about it was when we heard the sirens.

“We came out about 3.30pm when they were putting the police ribbons up, and I thought it wasn’t a normal accident because they were closing the whole road.”

Another local, who did not wish to be named, said: “Apparently there was one bloke running after another man with a hammer in his hand.

“We don’t know what was said between the pair but its certainly ended in real tragedy.”

A neighbour who lives next door to the car wash said he saw a pick up truck revving his engine before driving at the victim down an alleyway, which caused him to run out into the road.

The man, who did not want to be named, said: “I saw a man in a Ford Ranger pick up truck chasing the man who died at about 3.20pm yesterday.

“There was lots of shouting but I didn’t take any notice to be honest and living on a dual carriage way it was too hard to make out what was being said.

“The Ranger chased him and I saw the man run – then I heard a loud thud.

“It then reversed away like a bat out of hell on the dual carriageway, he was angry, he wanted to get hold of that man.

“As soon as I heard the thud I ran out, my partner ran over to the man to check his pulse but he was dead.

“It was a steel lorry, he had no chance, even though he was only going at about 30mph.

“It is weird, as soon as it happened, literally seconds after, the car wash place put down all their shutters and went home, they got out of there as quickly as possible.

“The men who work there are of ethnic background, there’s about three men who work there and more on the weekend.

“For them to pull the shutters down and leave when there’s a man laying dead makes me think there’s something strange going on.

“The police presence here was unbelievable, so many different teams, a helicopter, I’ve never seen anything like it.

“Something has obviously gone wrong though, there is obviously a row over money, , maybe even women, it will be something pathetic.

“He was a mess afterwards, but he did all he could to stop the lorry, he managed to stop it just before he went under the back wheels.

“When my partner went and checked his pulse, there was claret and brains everywhere.

“He had no chance.”

Another neighbour Anne Jones, 36, added: “I saw the police rush over at around half three, the lorry was still there but I didn’t see the driver.

“The car wash is always busy, it is packed with people going in and out most days.

“It was obviously a serious incident, the road was closed until very late last night.

“The traffic is constant here, but the first thing I knew of the crash was the sirens.

“The helicopter came later, it is just a shock for something for this to happen right opposite my home.”

Local resident Alex Amphlett, 31, was on his way back to his house when he heard the crash.

He said: “There was a police cordon from the top of the road, there were no cars, that made me think it was something very serious.

“I heard someone was being chased into the dead end by the car wash and with that he chased him into the road when the lorry hit him, he had no chance.

“I’ve only seen the people who work there as we’re driving past, they haven’t been there today I don’t think.

“We have crashes along this road but I’ve never heard of something like this happening here before.

“I don’t know who the man was who died, but he had no chance, you don’t survive something like that.”