'Road safety is our top priority' says highways chief after four-year-old was hit and killed by a bus in Tipton
Sandwell's highways chief pledged to make road safety his top priority after a four-year-old was knocked down and killed by a bus in Tipton town centre.
Gurkirat Singh, from the town, was returning from a shopping trip with his family when he crossed the road from between parked cars into the path of the number 226 bus in Tipton High Street shortly before 5pm on December 6, 2024. Despite the efforts of emergency crews he later died from head and chest injuries.
Following inquiries by the Black Country's senior coroner Zafar Siddique, it emerged that six incidents in the last five years had taken place along the stretch of carriage from the island junction with Owen Street and Sedgley Road West to High Street where the child was struck.
Work has this week started on a scheme to introduce a 20mph speed limit along the B4517 Owen Street along with new street lighting, resurfaced pavements, improved raised pedestrian crossings and bus stops relocated to make connections easier as part of a £1.5 million town centre regeneration scheme which will now be extended to include High Street where the collision happened.
