Express & Star

Pedestrian died after being hit by two cars in Smethwick

A man was hit by a car as he crossed the road in 'horrendous' weather conditions, with the force of the impact propelling him into another vehicle, an inquest heard.

Published

Retired toolmaker Alan Jones was knocked down in Thimblemill Road, Smethwick.

After hearing evidence, senior Black Country coroner Mr Robin Balmain said it appeared the 67-year-old, from Thompson Gardens in Smethwick, 'had crossed the road when it was unsafe to do so.'

Keirre Walker-Shelton, who was driving the Vauxhall Astra which struck Mr Jones first, told the court it had been raining heavily and was dark.

The 19-year-old said: "The headlights were on and the windscreen wipers were on the fast setting.

"I was travelling down Thimblemill Road and started to apply the brake as I was going at around 37mph.

"As my wipers went up I saw him. He was in the middle of the road by my right headlight basically. He looked like he was running."

Mr Walker-Shelton told the inquest that he 'knew it was too late to react'.

"I knew he was going to hit the windscreen so closed my eyes and braced myself. I felt the crash and stopped."

Mr Walker-Shelton said after stopping the car he got out and ran up the road.

He said there were already people around.

The inquest also heard from Shinda Niner, who was driver a Hyundai Coupe which was the second car involved in the crash, which happened at 6pm on December 18 last year.

"I was driving up Thimblemill Road and to be honest did not see the pedestrian," he said.

"I saw a figure in the air and he bounced off my bonnet basically.

"The weather conditions were horrendous. It was not just heavy rain but the wind as well and it was dark.

"It was a typical winter evening."

Crash investigator Pc Steven Jubb, of West Midlands Police, said the conditions had made it difficult to gather evidence to pinpoint the exact place of the collision.

But he said the damage to both vehicles was consistent with what both drivers had said.

"Small pieces of vehicle debris and glass which are usually helpful in situations like this were being blown around and were no longer believed to be in their original positions," he said.

"It could have been a glancing blow. Mr Jones would have taken on some of the momentum of the Astra and this is how he was projected forward into the opposite carriageway.

"This is where the second hit takes place."

Mr Balmain gave a conclusion of death due to a road traffic collision at the end of the hearing.

"There a number of factors to be taken into account including the weather conditions, the fact Mr Jones crossed the road when unsafe to do so and speed the Vauxhall Astra was travelling."

The speed limit on the road is 30mph.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.