Devastated family of tragic Jamey Coleman raise charity cash
The family of a popular 24-year-old man who was killed in a hit-and-run crash as he walked home from a night out have launched a fundraising campaign in his memory.
Relatives of Jamey Coleman have already raised £500 for brain injury charity Headway and are appealing for more donations.
A page has been set up on the JustGiving website in his honour.
A message on the page posted by Mr Coleman's sister Simone says: "We wanted to donate Jamey's organs to help save another life, but were unable to do so as he had gone into organ failure, Jamey died at 9:30am after a six-hour battle."
Had Jamey survived his injuries, he would have needed the help from the Headway Charity, as he would have been severely disabled.
"Our family lives have been devastated by the loss of Jamey not realising that this could happen to us and not knowing the impact that this has had on my parents so I have set this JustGiving page up so that head trauma survivors can continue to get the help and support needed for themselves and their families at such a traumatic time in their lives."
Speaking to the Express & Star, the 23-year-old, of Sussex Avenue, Aldridge, said: "He was a happy chap who was very much into his music. He was a big raver. He lived for the weekend. He was so kind and would do anything for anybody.
"He was very popular."
She said that Jamey had worked for Cannock Chemicals for just over four years and that he loved his job so much that bosses had to force him to take his holidays.
Around 300 people attended his funeral at St John's Church in Walsall Wood on April 15.
Police have appealed for information but so far no-one has been arrested over the crash.
Following the crash, friends rushed back to the White Horse pub after the crash to raise the alarm, while others tried to help him as he lay at the roadside.
After the tragedy, a man living near the scene paid tribute to Mr Coleman and said he was often seen on nights out in the area. He said Mr Coleman was a former pupil of Brownhills School and he said he always had a smile on his face and was a 'cracking lad'.
Police said they have interviewed a woman in her 20s in connection with the collision after she came forward as a witness.
An inquest in Smethwick was opened last month and adjourned until a later date, which has not yet been arranged.
Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the force's Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Mr Coleman had been with friends in the White Horse public house and they were crossing the A5 when he was hit by an unknown vehicle. This is a tragic loss of a young life. I am eager to hear from any person who was in the vicinity of the A5 near to the junction of Watling Street at the time of this incident, also any person who may have seen Mr Coleman and his friend in the White Horse throughout the evening."
