Safety call as tragedy echoes previous Blakenall bus crash

Council bosses in Walsall say they will be looking at the accident scene along Valley Road in Blakenall to see if there are any safety issues.

Yesterday's tragedy came just months after a bus ploughed into the garden of a house, demolishing the wall.

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Five people had to be taken to hospital after the crash between a car and the bus – which ended up in a front garden.

A petition was started by residents calling for safety measures on the road after the accident in September and it was handed into the council. But Bloxwich East Councillor Kath Phillips said today she will be starting a new petition.

She said: "There have been concerns about speeding on that road. We suggested to the police that a survey ought to be carried out in that area, but it never was.

"There was another accident there three months ago involving a school bus. I do not think the roads are made for buses."

Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said a detailed investigation needed to take place to find out how the accident happened. He said: "This was a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the family at this time.

"Myself and the chief executive have instructed the council's highways officers to examine the accident scene alongside the police to see whether road safety had been compromised.

"We can't second guess the police investigation into what the cause was. We have got to look at whether there is an issue with the junction or whether it was driver error."

Residents were today calling for speed bumps and bollards to be installed along the road to prevent any accidents happening in the future.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It should not have happened. Last year there was a petition set up calling for traffic calming measures along Valley Road because the 23 bus left the road and ended up in someone's front garden. Now this."