Black Country crash which killed woman described as 'carnage'
A woman died and five other people were injured in an horrific four-car crash on a Black Country road.
Stunned residents and office workers ran to help the injured following the smash in Waterfall Lane, Cradley Heath.
A woman in her 80s, a passenger in a Kia Picanto, died at the scene and an elderly man was taken to Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital with serious injuries.
A customer at The Waterfall pub helped a paramedic give him cardiac resuscitation until further emergency aid arrived.
A taxi driver at the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra estate was dragged from the vehicle by people working at the Loaves and Fishes charity centre nearby.
Three women and a young girl, thought to be aged around four, were in a Ford Ka.
Residents said they heard screeching brakes and a loud bang. One described the scene as 'carange'.
Retired TV repairman Ray Martin, aged 70, said: "My heart sank."
The crash, at just before noon yesterday, brought people running from their homes. Karl Gardner, manager of The Waterfall pub, was first on the phone to the emergency services.
Bystander Philip Challoner, 60, from the charity centre, helped to drag free the taxi driver, who is understood to have just left the council vehicle testing garage at the bottom of Waterfall Lane after a random spot check.
He said: "There was smoke coming from the vehicle and we just needed to get him out. He said he couldn't breathe."
Police sealed off the road for several hours to allow fire crews, paramedics and accident investigation officers to work at the scene. Two air ambulances landed nearby but were not used.
A West Midlands Ambulance spokeswoman said three of the injured were taken to Russells Hall Hospital and another to Sandwell Hospital.
