Six people have been killed and a seventh critically injured after a multi-vehicle crash in Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday morning.
West Midlands ambulance service said six cars, including a black cab, were involved in the collision in an underpass on Lee Bank Middleway at 1.10am.
The six who died at the scene included the driver of the taxi and his two passengers, a man and a woman, as well as three men who were thrown from a car during the collision.
West Midlands police has launched an investigation into what it described as the “very difficult and upsetting” circumstances of the collision and asked witnesses to contact the force on 101.
A West Midlands ambulance service spokesman described the crash scene as “extremely complex and distressing” and that it involved three primary cars, plus another three who tried to avoid the earlier collision.
He said: “There were six vehicles involved in the crash scene, which was extensive.
“In the first car there were a man and a woman. The vehicle had suffered very extensive damage but astonishingly, despite the damage, the pair had managed to get out and had suffered relatively minor injuries. They were taken to Heartlands hospital by ambulance for further assessment.
“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 from the third car. All had been ejected. Tragically, three of them were confirmed dead at the scene. The fourth was also taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth hospital Birmingham with the critical care car doctor travelling with the crew. He was said to be in a critical condition on arrival.”
There were three further cars involved in a pile-up which had tried to avoid the crash scene, the spokesman said. From these cars, only two suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital.
Two ambulances were on scene within seven minutes and in total, five ambulances, three paramedic officers, the hazardous area response team, a trauma doctor and the air ambulance were all sent to the scene.
Police told the public the road was expected to be closed for a “very long time”.
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