Express & Star

Hunt for driver who dragged man along street after Oldbury collision

Police are hunting the driver of a small red car after an man was dragged along an Oldbury street as he went to investigate a collision outside his house.

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The drama unfolded in Penncricket Lane late on November 27 last year, when 37-year-old Darren Shelley-Mellor was disturbed by the sound of a loud bang outside.

A police spokesman said today: "Mr Shelley-Mellor and his wife ran outside to discover that his Ford Transit van had been hit by a passing red car.

"He ran over to the vehicle and opened the door to speak to the driver, when the car was put in reverse and began to swerve backwards - taking the van's owner with it.

"The man was dragged over 50 metres along the street until the car collided with a lamppost, smashing the glass in the driver's door, and throwing the innocent injured man onto the pavement."

The car then sped off along Penncricket Lane, towards Oldbury Road, and out of sight.

Mr Shelley-Mellor, a father of four stepchildren and one step grandchild, was rushed to hospital at around 10pm where he was treated for a serious hand injury.

PC Sarah Russell, from Force CID at Smethwick police station, said: "Thankfully the man was not critically injured but this could have turned out very differently.

"He was simply going to speak to the driver after he had crashed into his van but, for his trouble, ended up being dragged some way along the street and sustaining injuries that needed hospital treatment.

"We know from speaking to other residents that the car was small and red, but unfortunately the impact of the original crash left it so badly damaged that a registration plate or even make was not obvious.

"The car's colour is described as dull red, meaning it could well be a few years old, and it had damage to the front and driver's door which would have been obvious and the airbag is believed to have been activated."

The driver was described as an Asian man, in his early to mid 20s, of fairly slim build, with a designer type beard, which came down in a single line from his side burns to his jaw, and his face appeared shiny - which may well have been blood that came from an injury sustained during the initial collision.

Anyone who knows of the car, has been asked to repair it, or who recognises the description of the driver is urged to call Force CID at Harborne by dialling 101 or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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