Woman in bike crash tragedy is identified

A Cannock woman who died after being struck by a motorcycle has been named by Staffordshire Police as Carol Cooper, aged 61, of Leacroft Lane, Churchbridge.

She was knocked down by the bike shortly before 7.30am yesterday outside Lakeside Residential Home, in Stafford Road, Newtown, near Great Wyrley. She had received serious head injuries.

Mrs Cooper and the rider, who was also said to be in his 60s, were both taken to Walsall Manor Hospital, where she died from her injuries. The rider has since been released from hospital after receiving treatment for shock and leg injuries.

The busy A34 was closed by police at the junction with Turnberry Road in Bloxwich for more than three hours to carry out an accident reconstruction.

Staffordshire Police's senior investigating officer Ant Richards said the force is keen to hear from any witnesses.

Local residents told the Express & Star that the road has had problems with speeding, but recently installed speed cameras have helped to calm traffic down to 30mph. There was a fatal accident in 1999 on the same stretch when a 17-year-old pedestrian was killed.

Witnesses to the incident can call Sgt 4560 Ant Richards at Cannock on 0300 123 4455, quoting reference 81 of February 9.