Man crushed to death by car is named

Emergency services were called to the industrial estate in James Scott Road at 5pm on Thursday but were unable to save the 64-year-old father, who was from Dudley.

It is believed the victim was working underneath the car when it slipped off a jack and fell onto him. Workers from a nearby firm have told how they rushed to free him from beneath the car.

Motoring enthusiast Mr Ashton used the site frequently to fix up cars.

Roy Brettle, who owns the storage yard where the freak accident occurred, described Mr Ashton as a 'jolly person'.

Mr Brettle, 67, said: "He used to use the yard to mess about with cars, it was his hobby. He used to drive lorries but when he got to 64 he couldn't do it any longer so used to do odd jobs.

"He was helpful and very jolly. Somebody broke my gates once and he helped me out with that, he was very useful. Other than that I don't know much about him but he was always jolly. It is very sad what has happened."

Mr Brettle said Mr Ashton was working on a gear box on a silver Vauxhall when it fell on top of him.

"It is terrible. I have lost a good friend," he said.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into exactly what happened at the yard. West Midlands Police said it was not treating the death as suspicious.

The owner of nearby MEK Commercials, who did not wish to be named, described how he dashed to the scene after he was alerted by a distraught member of his staff.

He said: "It was about 4.15pm and one of my lads was walking past the storage yard site next to us and saw a man underneath a silver car with his legs hanging out.

"He rushed back and we phoned an ambulance and jacked the car up and managed to drag him out.

"The emergency services were telling us to check if he had a pulse –but unfortunately it was too late.

"There is a possibly that he could have been there for some time.

"The tyres were flat on the car and he may have not jacked it up properly and it collapsed on him. It is incredibly sad."