Two drivers die in weekend crashes

Two motorists died and others suffered serious injuries during an horrific weekend of crashes around the Midlands.

The first driver was killed when his van hit a tree and burst into flames in Staffordshire yesterday.

He was travelling in a silver Vauxhall Astra from Tutbury towards Anslow when tragedy struck on Belmot Road, near to Belmot Common, at around 4.40am.

Hours later a Fiat people carrier careered off the road in High Street, Walsall Wood, at 11.20am. The driver, thought to have been in his 60s, died at the scene. The car smashed through railings and plunged down an embankment, coming to a stop in the car park of St John's Medical Centre.

He was pulled out of the wreckage by police officers passing the scene. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him at the side of the road but could not save him. He was confirmed dead at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Watch commander Andrew Dickson, of Aldridge fire station, said: "It's a miracle that no-one else was hurt."

In another smash, a 45-year-old motorcyclist had to be airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital following a collision with a 4x4 on the outskirts of Clows Top, near Kidderminster. The collision happened on the A456 at 5pm yesterday.

And a man was airlifted to hospital after smashing into a tree while mountain biking near Kinver.

Paramedics were called to Bunkers Hill Wood at 10.45am yesterday. West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Chris Kowalik said:"A 32-year-old man had suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder after his bike collided with a tree. He also had minor cuts."

An elderly driver lost control of his car and smashed into the front of a house in Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton, just before 2.30pm yesterday. He escaped without serious injury.