Weekend of drama on region's roads

A schoolboy is in a critical condition in hospital after being knocked down by a car and a pensioner has suffered serious injuries after being hit by a bus in separate incidents in the Black Country.

A string of dramas on the region's roads at the weekend also saw a pedestrian airlifted to hospital after being struck by a car, and another motorist suffering injuries when his vehicle ploughed into a telegraph pole.

Nine-year-old Daniel Denton suffered a fractured skull, broken arm and broken leg as he was on his way home after playing with friends in Wolverhampton.

The youngster was unconscious when paramedics arrived and he was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital where he is in intensive care.

They were called to Upper Zoar Street, off Great Bickkiln Street, just after 12.30pm on Saturday. Michael Lloyd, a friend of the family, from Russell Street, said the Penn Fields School pupil's parents Richard and Tina, of nearby Bruford Road, are keeping a vigil by his bed.

Meanwhile a 71-year-old man suffered serious head injuries and a fractured leg after being in collision with a bus in Dudley.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Wolverhampton Street, shortly after 6.45pm yesterday.

Spokesman Chris Kowalik said the pensioner was put on a spinal board and fitted with a neck collar before being taken to the town's Russells Hall Hospital. The bus driver was suffering from shock but did not require hospital treatment. The county air ambulance from Cosford was in Standhills Road, Kingswinford, yesterday morning after a 65-year-old woman was hit by a car.

Emergency crews found her unconscious, and she was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital.

In Walsall a car collided with a telegraph pole and overturned just yards from a bus stop.

The 25-year-old driver was pulled free by a member of the public after the Peugeot 206 rolled over and onto a grass embankment along Harden Road, Goscote.

Paramedics, police and firefighters were called to the accident at around 8.10pm on Saturday and the man was taken to Manor Hospital. He also suffered abdominal injuries but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

Meanwhile two people were taken to hospital yesterday after their car crashed into a tree in Birmingham. The smash happened in Lickey Road, Rednal, shortly after 6am.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said people were trapped inside and had to be freed by fire crews. One of the occupants was resuscitated at the scene before being taken to Selly Oak Hospital.

Seven people were injured in a crash involving two cars. Paramedics found one car upturned when they responded to the smash at the junction of Lifford Lane and Pershore Road, Kings Norton, shortly before 2.45am yesterday.

All seven were treated at the scene.