Lichfield Road crash: Police hunt Mercedes driver after elderly man seriously injured in Walsall hit-and-run

The man, believed to be in his 80s, was left with 'very serious injuries' after he was hit by a car on Lichfield Road this morning.

Police are now urgently searching for a convertible Mercedes believed to have been involved in the smash, which happened shortly after 11am.

The pensioner was hit between Mellish Road and Daw End Lane and was soon airlifted to the major trauma centre at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he is being treated for head, chest and ankle wounds.

A busy stretch of Lichfield Road was closed until 4pm while police investigated the crash and officers have now released the registration plate number of a Mercedes convertible suspected of being involved.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from West Midlands Police's collision investigation unit, said it was likely the car would have been damaged by the impact of the crash and urged the driver to come forward.

"The car has been described by witnesses as a light-coloured, convertible Mercedes displaying reg number MJ52 0VM," DS Hughes said.

"Due to the impact we believe the car will have sustained extensive windscreen damage.

"We urge anyone who has any information on the movements of this vehicle before or after the collision to get in touch with us as soon as possible.

"I also want to appeal directly to the driver to do the right thing and come forward."

West Midlands Ambulance Service said that an ambulance was initially sent to help the man, but the crew quickly requested a doctor so the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with the MERIT trauma doctor on board was dispatched along with a paramedic area support officer.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "On arrival ambulance staff were told that the man had been in collision with a car though there was no car at the scene.

"The man, had suffered very serious injuries to his head, chest and left ankle.

"Due to his condition, he was anaesthetised at the roadside by the doctor before being airlifted to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham where medics were put on standby for the aircraft's arrival."

Anyone with information is asked to call West Midlands Police on 101 quoting log 727 of 19/04/17.

Alternatively information can be given to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.