Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Girls aged six and seven die in '100mph' car crash in Birmingham

Two other children were hurt and a 39-year-old woman remains in critical condition in hospital following the crash

Rose Troup Buchanan
Monday 22 June 2015 14:09 BST
Grove Lane, Birmingham, where the accident took place
Grove Lane, Birmingham, where the accident took place

Two young girls have died after a car crashed into a group of five pedestrians in Birmingham yesterday.

The children, aged six and seven, were taken to Birmingham Childrens' hospital after the collision on Grove Lane in Handsworth, Birmingham, at around noon yesterday.

Despite the “best efforts of medical staff” the children died shortly after arriving in hospital.

An unidentified 39-year-old woman remains in a critical condition in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Major Trauma Unit hospital, along with a 12-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy. Their injuries are believed to be serious but not life-threatening, according to a West Midlands police statement.

A witness described to the BBC the "very frightening" scene, with other witnesses describing the horrific incident.

"I was horrified by what I saw," one anonymous witness told the Daily Mail. He added yesterday: "The car must have been doing 100mph. I pray they pull through. There were bodies everywhere."

A 34-year-old local man arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving remains in custody. Police have appealed for witnesses.

Collision Investigation Unit Sergeant Steve Newbury said: “We still continue to investigate the circumstances around this tragic incident and officers continue to liaise with the family of those involved.”

He added he particularly wanted to speak to anyone traveling on the 101 bus along Grove Lane, towards Oxhill road, at around midday yesterday.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Collision Investigation Unit on 101.

Additional reporting by Press Association

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in