Footballer held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving

A police hunt for a First Division footballer ended yesterday when he was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Detectives had been searching for Lee Hughes, a striker with West Bromwich Albion, since early on Sunday after his Mercedes CL55 coupe was involved in a collision with a Renault Megane on the outskirts of Coventry, in which a man was killed. Officers went to his house but it was empty.

Mr Hughes, 27, presented himself at Little Park Street police station in Coventry accompanied by his solicitor yesterday morning. He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop after a road traffic injury.

The collision was in Pickford Grange Lane, near Meriden, outside Coventry.

Douglas Graham, 56, a rear passenger in the Megane, died from his injuries. His wife, also a passenger, was treated at Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital for a broken leg. The male driver suffered a broken pelvis and another male passenger suffered bruising.

There are understood to have been five men in the Mercedes. Three remained at the scene but Mr Hughes and a passenger from the Mercedes are alleged to have left the scene. The passenger has been spoken to by police, but not arrested.

West Midlands Police declined to confirm the name of the arrested man. A spokesman said: "A 27-year-old man from Meriden, near Coventry, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop after an injury road traffic collision. He remains in custody at Little Park Street police station in Coventry and is due to be questioned by officers."

Mr Hughes' father, Bill Hughes, who watched his son play for West Brom on Saturday against Reading, said his son had left with his wife after the game and had been intending to go for a meal. Mr Hughes senior said: "I am relieved that he has handed himself in. I haven't spoken to him yet but I am waiting to hear from the solicitor."

West Bromwich Albion said Mr Hughes would take no part in tomorrow's match against Cardiff City because he had not appeared for training on Sunday or yesterday.