‘This will happen again’

Residents fear there will be more fatalities on the same road where an 80-year-old woman was tragically killed in a collision[1] with a delivery van. Emergency services were called to reports of a collision between a pedestrian and a van on Lordswood Road, Harborne[2], on Monday, January 15. The woman died at the scene, despite the best efforts of paramedics.

The delivery driver, who stopped at the scene, was 'helping police with their inquiries.' Concerned residents warned there could be further tragedies on this stretch of road, unless more was done to improve safety. They also said they feared that new building work in the area was 'only going to make things worse' at the junction which is frequently used as a crossing by 'vulnerable' residents.

"We all feel really sorry for the person who was killed," said Dale Jackson, a resident on the neighbouring Crosbie Road. Dale said concerns had been raised about the Lordswood Road junction in the past and he and other residents had tried but failed to implement a one-way system in the area. "It's a dangerous junction," he said. "The roundabout is very hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists - this collision was not the least bit surprising.

"We're worried building work in the area is going to create more problems as there will be more traffic coming in and out. There's a dentist, doctors, old people's home in and around this area - and three schools including a school for the blind. This was always going to happen - and I can see more coming."

Another resident, who wished to only be referred to as David, added: "This is an accident black spot - this is the first fatality but there's incidents here every single week. "They're planning to put another dropped kerb in to serve new houses which will only make things worse. There's going to be another fatality - absolutely no question.

We've tried to raise these concerns before but no one has taken any action."

Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor were sent to the scene after the collision. A West Midlands Ambulance Service[4] spokesperson said: "On arrival crews discovered one patient, a woman, who was the pedestrian. She was found to have suffered serious injuries in the collision and ambulance crews immediately began administering specialist trauma care.

"However, despite their best efforts it sadly became apparent nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed dead at the scene." A police spokesman told BirminghamLive: "An elderly woman has sadly died after being hit by a delivery van just before midday on Lordswood Road, Harborne[5] . The delivery driver stopped at the scene and is helping us with our enquiries.

Anyone with information should contact us via Live Chat on our website quoting log 2017 of 15/1."

Police added: "Road safety is a priority for us and partners including Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), local authorities and the region's Police and Crime Commissioner.

We joined forces under the Operation Triton banner last year to pledge action to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads and this work continues."

References

1. ^ -year-old woman was tragically killed in a collision (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Harborne (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ Riot police move in as man armed with knife 'throws missiles' from Kingstanding pub roof (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ West Midlands Ambulance Service (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ Harborne (www.birminghammail.co.uk)