A tragic hit-and-run incident involving a stolen Porsche Cayenne resulted in the death of a two-year-old boy and left four adults injured on Dartmouth Road, Smethwick, late Saturday night. The accident, which occurred shortly before 11pm on December 14, 2023, is under investigation by the West Midlands Police.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of the collision between the Porsche and a Toyota Auris carrying the victims. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, the toddler could not be saved, succumbing to injuries shortly after being taken to the hospital. The conditions of two adults, aged 29 and 30, remain serious, as police have confirmed they are still receiving treatment. The other two adults, also aged 30, are reported to be stable but were injured during the crash.
West Midlands Police have arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, which came after new evidence was received concerning the collision. Following the incident, the driver of the Porsche fled the scene, exacerbated by the fact the car was reported stolen earlier this month. Authorities continue to plea for anyone with information or dashcam footage related to the accident to come forward.
Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes from the serious collision investigation unit expressed deep sympathy for the boy's family and urged the driver of the stolen vehicle to act responsibly. "Our thoughts remain with the family of the little boy at this extremely difficult time. I would urge the driver of the Porsche to do the right thing and come and talk to us," he stated.
The city of Smethwick has been dealing with increasing concerns about reckless driving, particularly along Dartmouth Road. Local MP Sarah Coombes described the accident as "absolutely tragic" and highlighted the persistent fear residents have concerning street racing. "Residents live through hell every Friday and Saturday night, dreading these cars will turn up," she commented during her remarks about the incident. She pointed out the need for urgent action to improve road safety measures, stating, "We've had so many crashes on this stretch of road, we need to do something about it."
Residents fear for their safety as they witness numerous speeding incidents involving dangerous vehicles. Russell George, another community advocate for road safety, also lamented the situation. Having campaigned for improvements for over ten years, he remarked upon recognizing something was amiss as soon as he saw the road blocked off due to the investigation.
West Midlands Police closed the road down for several hours to enable specialist reconstruction officers to examine the scene. Following their investigation, the road has since reopened to traffic. The Porsche Cayenne was reportedly seen recklessly departing from a roundabout on Kenrick Way, which is notorious among locals for hosting street racers.
The community’s anxiety speaks to the broader issues of road safety and reckless driving habits, which officials now must address to prevent future tragedies. DS Hughes emphasized the importance of public assistance: "I also want to appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision and hasn’t already spoken to us, or has CCTV or dashcam footage, to get in touch."
Authorities continue to investigate this heartbreaking incident and are dutifully working to bring justice for the grieving family as they navigate this dark moment. Residents are left wondering what it will take to improve safety on their streets to avoid future losses.
