Express & Star

Suspected drink-driver crashes into lamppost during spate of New Year crashes

A suspected drink-driver crashed into a lamppost leaving the car balancing on two wheels before fleeing the scene on foot.

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A car with two of its wheels in the air after it smashed into a lamppost and, in a separate crash, a car at the bottom of an embankment at Cannock Chase. Pictures respectively: West Bromwich Fire Station/West Midlands Fire Service and Cannock Police.

It was one of several incidents which kept emergency services busy as the new year was ushered in.

The collision happened shortly before 9.39pm on New Year’s Eve in Great Barr.

The black BWM ended up wedged on a lamppost in the grassed central reservation area of the Newton Road near the junction with Waddington Avenue.

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A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “It was a one-car collision. The vehicle was left wedged on a lamppost.

"It was a suspected drink-driver who made off from the scene. We have a description of the male and we are making inquiries to try and trace them.”

Two crews from West Bromwich fire station attended, and released a picture of the car on their Twitter feed.

The post said: “Drive safely this New Year please.This collision is a stark reminder. #DriveSafe #drinkresponsibly.”

Earlier the same day police were called to incident in Cannock Chase where a car had left the road and rolled down an embankment on to its roof.

Miraculously no-one was injured.

At 1.20pm on New Year’s Eve Cannock Police took to its Twitter feed to urge drivers to be careful uploading a picture of the aftermath.

They said: “A reminder to drive carefully, especially in inclement weather conditions.

“Thankfully no injuries reported from this incident over the holiday period.”

In another incident emergency services were called to a two-car crash on the Kidderminster Road South in Hagley at 10.51am today.

One person had to be released from one of the vehicles involved and was left in the care of paramedics.