Boy, 17, killed as car hits tree moments after ‘failing to stop for police’

Police have revealed that it was a 17-year-old boy killed when a car hit a tree in Halesowen. The teenager was in a vehicle that had 'failed to stop' for police moments before the collision near the junction of Coombs Road and Amber Way. The crash, which happened just after 3.15am on Friday, January 5, also saw two 16-year-olds injured.

The youths, who were taken to hospital, have been arrested on suspicion of theft. West Midlands Police[1] said the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The road remains closed while emergency services and collision reconstruction experts work at the scene.

A force spokesman said: "A teenager has died following a collision in Halesowen during the early hours of this morning. The 17-year-old boy was in a car which failed to stop for police moments before hitting a tree, near the junction of Coombs Road and Amber Way, at just after 3.15am. "Sadly nothing could be done to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two 16-year-olds who were also in the car have been taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be serious. They have been arrested on suspicion of theft. "The road has been closed while emergency services and collision reconstruction experts establish the circumstances of the collision.

The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is normal procedure." Try BirminghamLive Premium for just GBP12 for 12 months![3] A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service[4] said: "We were called to reports of a car that had crashed into a tree on Coombs Road at 3.17am.

Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor attended the scene. "On arrival we discovered three male patients, one of whom was found to have suffered critical injuries in the incident. Sadly, it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

"A second patient was treated for serious injuries and a third for injuries not believed to be serious, before they were both taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital[5], Birmingham." The latest updates on this breaking news story can be found here[6] on our live blog.

References

1. ^ West Midlands Police (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Criminologist says 'wait a minute' after spotting 'too strange' item in 'flat of horrors' (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ Try BirminghamLive Premium for just GBP12 for 12 months! (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ West Midlands Ambulance Service (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ Queen Elizabeth Hospital (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
6. ^ here (www.birminghammail.co.uk)