Six people have been killed and another critically injured in a “very difficult and upsetting” crash in Birmingham.
The collision, which involved six vehicles, happened shortly after 1am at the entrance to the underpass on Lee Bank Middleway near Edgbaston.
West Midlands Police have warned the road is likely to remain closed “for a very long time”, with detectives describing the circumstances of the “serious collision” as “very difficult and upsetting”.
Three men died after being thrown out of their car, while a black cab driver and his two passengers also died. Three other cars collided as they tried to avoid the initial crash.
Birmingham car crash Police have launched an investigation.
West Midlands Ambulance Service, which dispatched five ambulances and three paramedics, described the scene as “extensive and extremely complex”.
A spokesman said a man and woman in the first car “astonishingly” escaped with “relatively minor injuries” despite extensive damage to their vehicle.
Car crash in Birmingham The black cab was discovered on its side and the ambulance service said “there was nothing that could be done to save the driver”, who was confirmed dead at the scene.
Two passengers in the back, a man and a woman, were quickly removed by the emergency services.
“Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the woman and she was also confirmed dead at the scene,” the spokesman went on to say.
“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.”
One of the cars involved in the fatal Birmingham crash Four men were travelling in the third car involved in the crash, and three of them were confirmed dead at the scene.
The other man has been taken to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in a critical condition.
Of those travelling in the three other cars, a man and a woman received treatment for minor injuries, another man was discharged after being assessed by paramedics and another said he did not need any assistance.
The scene of a multi-vehicle crash at the entrance to the underpass on Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston West Midlands Fire Service said 40 firefighters were sent to the scene in the wake of the “horrific” crash.
“The first West Midlands Fire Service crews arrived in less than four minutes and were met with a complex scene, spread over some distance,” Area Commander Jason Campbell said.
Birmingham car crash “Our firefighters’ actions involved stabilising vehicles, releasing the dead and injured, as well as administering CPR and first aid.
All of the emergency services worked together and co-ordinated their response in extremely challenging circumstances, doing all they possibly could to minimise the loss of life.