A woman was killed and five people left injured in a smash involving a police car responding to a 999 call in Wolverhampton.

The 45-year-old victim was a passenger in a Ford Escort which was caught up in the three-car crash at the junction of Neachells Lane and Willenhall Road, opposite The Neachells pub in Eastfield.

The police car, a Vauxhall Astra, was understood to be on its way to an emergency nearby when it collided with the Escort and a Renault Clio at around 10.10pm yesterday.

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A woman was killed and five people left injured in a smash involving a police car responding to a 999 call in Wolverhampton.

The 45-year-old victim was a passenger in a Ford Escort which was caught up in the three-car crash at the junction of Neachells Lane and Willenhall Road, opposite The Neachells pub in Eastfield.

The police car, a Vauxhall Astra, was understood to be on its way to an emergency nearby when it collided with the Escort and a Renault Clio at around 10.10pm yesterday.

Witnesses told how a young girl who was in one of the cars was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Today railings at the junction of the traffic lights on the Willenhall Road were mangled and litter bins were stuffed with police tape.

Pat McAuliffe, who lives in nearby Moseley Road, said: “I heard the bang so I looked out of my front window. The doors of the police car were open and the officers had got out.

“Within minutes there were ambulances and fire engines here. I saw them take a little girl into the back of an ambulance.

“There were lots of people standing around watching.”

She said the scene was cleared by 6am.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Daphne Lewis said three people were taken by ambulance and three others were “walking wounded” with minor injuries.

Police spokesman Steve Garey said the force’s professional standards department had been informed and the matter referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Witnesses can call officers on 0845 113 5000.