'It's horrible what has happened. It's so tragic': Heartbroken residents react after fatal Smethwick crash and call for road safety action
Residents have called for heavy action by Sandwell Council to make their road safer.
Residents of a street in Smethwick have described their road as a 'racing circuit' following the tragic death of a 62-year-old woman last night.
The woman, who was a pedestrian on Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, was struck by a vehicle at around 9.30pm, with ambulance staff later declaring her deceased at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle, a 35-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving.
Now, residents of Thimblemill Road have spoken about the roads around the area being 'like a raceway for street racers'.
Hillary Morris, 71, of Thimblemill Road, said: "It's terrible down here. Cars speed down here all day and night. It's always been really bad. The [street racers] treat this area like a big racing circuit.
"It's horrible what has happened. It's so tragic."
She has also called on Sandwell Council to take action to make the road safer.
One resident described being awoken in the night to a loud bang, before mistaking it for the television.
"I heard a loud bang outside of my window, but I thought it was just the television," said the resident who didn't want to be named.
"Then obviously the emergency vehicles' lights were there, and I knew it was something bad. It's horrible, I've lived here for 40 years, and it's always been quite bad. It's a shame because it's a nice area," he added.
Another resident, who lives in the nearby William Road, said that the whole area is 'like a circuit' for racers to use.
Matthew Wilkins, 48, said: "It's like a whole circuit around here. You don't hear the speeders every night, but most nights they do come down here.
"They go up to the top of the hill, back down and then around. It's sad that this has happened."
A police appeal for information has since been launched in to the incident, with the force asking anyone with information to contact them directly on their 101 number, quoting reference number 5290 of 28 August.
Sandwell Council has been approached for comment.
