15-year-old driver dies after car crash

Teenage passenger taken to hospital and driver of second car arrested

Google street view image of Kenilworth Road, in Knowle, near Solihull (Google street view)

A 15-year-old driver has died and a second motorist has been arrested following a crash near Solihull.  

Police say the boy died at the scene after the silver Renault Clio he was driving flipped onto its roof on Kenilworth Road, in Knowle, just after 9.30pm on Monday.  

A female passenger, also aged 15, was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. Her injuries are not thought to be serious.  

West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics arrived to find the teenage girl had managed to free herself from the wreckage but the young driver remained trapped.  

The boy’s family is being supported by specialist officers.  

The driver of a second car, believed to be a grey Peugeot 206, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.  

He remains in police custody for questioning.  

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from West Midlands Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said officers were in the early stages of their investigation and urged the public not to speculate.  

He said: "This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts go out to the family of the young man involved.

"We are in the early stages of our investigation and still need to gather all available evidence.  

"With this in mind I would ask that people do not speculate on the circumstances of the collision, especially on social media.  

"This does nothing to help our investigation or support the families and others involved."  

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Ambulance crews arrived at the scene to find an overturned car.  

“The passenger, a teenage girl, had managed to self-extricate from the vehicle but the driver, a teenage boy, was trapped and in a critical condition.  

“An off-duty doctor and bystanders had commenced CPR prior to crews arriving.  

“Ambulance staff worked quickly with fire colleagues to release the teenager from the vehicle and commenced resuscitation efforts.  

“Crews worked as a team to administer advanced life support on the boy but sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone, nothing could be done to save the teen and he was confirmed dead a short time later.  

“The girl was assessed and was found with no apparent injuries but, due to the nature of the collision, was conveyed to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for further checks.”  

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has dash camera footage of the vehicles just before the crash is urged to get in touch with police.  

They can be contacted via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, by email at FL_COLLISION_INVEST@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101 at any time quoting log number 4744 of 23 November.  

To give information anonymously, call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.