Shelagh Fogarty 1pm - 4pm
Six Dead In "Very Serious" Birmingham Car Crash
17 December 2017, 08:55 | Updated: 17 December 2017, 09:09
Six people have been killed and a seventh is critically injured after a multi-vehicle crash in Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday morning, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
A main road in Birmingham will remain closed on Sunday after police, firefighters and paramedics were called to a "very serious" crash.
It's understood six people have been killed and a seventh is critically injured - following a multi-vehicle crash - in Birmingham.
The crash took place beneath an underpass, allowing witnesses to take graphic pictures of the scene which have since been uploaded to Facebook.
Police describe it as a "very difficult and upsetting" situation and a part of Belgrave Middleway, near Edgbaston, will be closed all day.
West Midlands Ambulance's Hazardous Area Response describe it as a "significant incident."
All first responders at the scene are doing their very best in very difficult and upsetting circumstances. This is a very serious incident. If you saw the crash happen or the circumstances leading up to it, please call us now on 101.
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) December 17, 2017
The crash happened at about 1.10am at the entrance to the underpass on Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston, at the junction of Bristol Road.
Six vehicles were involved in the incident, the ambulance service added.
Five ambulances and three paramedics were sent to the scene.
The road will remain closed on Sunday.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said a man and woman in the first car managed to escape with "relatively minor injuries", and were taken to Heartlands Hospital.
He added: "The second vehicle, a 'black cab', was on its side.
"Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the driver and he was confirmed dead at the scene. The man and woman in the back were rapidly extricated.
"Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the woman and she was also confirmed dead at the scene.
"The man was taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham with the merit trauma doctor travelling with the crew. Sadly, he died at hospital."
There were four men in the third car, the spokesman said, three of whom were confirmed dead at the scene.
The fourth was taken to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in a critical condition.
Of those travelling in the three other cars involved in the crash, a man and a woman were treated for minor injuries, one man was discharged after assessment and another said he did not require any assistance.