Cyclist and pedestrian killed after being hit by car that smashed into house

03 September 2023 , 17:33

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A series of collisions in Coventry have left two dead and another injured (Image: CoventryLive/BPM Media)

A cyclist and a pedestrian have died and a third person is seriously injured after they were hit by a car before it smashed into a house.

Police scrambled to the scene in Coventry at around 8am on Sunday following reports that three people had been seriously injured in a horror crash.

A 44-year-old pedestrian was ploughed into first before a cyclist was hit a short time later, reports Coventry Live.

Both were rushed into hospital, but critical care staff were not able to save them and they later died of their injuries. A second pedestrian who was crashed into in the city centre suffered injuries, though these are not thought to be life-threatening.

The car hit a number of people in separate crashes before ramming into a home

Officers from the force's drone team and dog unit launched into a hunt for the suspect, who reportedly made off when the car collided with a house. A 33-year-old man was located at around 9am and is being questioned in connection with the collisions, police said, adding that the families of "all those involved" have been informed.

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Tributes were paid by stunned members of the local community on social media in the wake of the incident. One wrote "Rest in peace to the poor souls who lost their lives", while another person said: "So very sad - two lives lost, RIP". A social media user wrote: "Sounds horrific. Thoughts are with all the family and friends of those affected and all the officers dealing with this incident. So sad, thinking of those families involved in this terrible ordeal." A fourth wrote: "So sad, thinking of those families involved in this terrible ordeal". Many local people spoke of their shock at the deaths, and some described hearing an emergency services helicopter in the area on Sunday morning.

After a pedestrian was fatally injured in Coventry city centre, a cyclist was struck by the same car on Woodway Lane and died (Coventry Telegraph/BPM Media)

One local publication described the deaths as a 'day of tragedy' for the city of Coventry, while unverified footage shared by a neighbour on Facebook showed a car rammed into the ground floor of a home. Smoke can be seen rising from the bonnet of the vehicle, which appears to have sustained considerable damage.

Several roads in the area were closed on Sunday afternoon as police investigated the the collisions, and locals were warned that they could stay shut for a 'considerable time'. Superintendent Ronan Tyrer, from Coventry Local Policing Area, said: "We have now informed the families of all those involved in today's tragic incidents and our thoughts remain firmly with them at this truly devastating time.

"We are still in the very early stages of our investigations and we have several scenes across Coventry which also means that some roads will be closed for a considerable time. We are also searching CCTV and making enquiries and would appeal to anyone who has any information that could help our investigations to contact us at their earliest opportunity."

A West Midlands Police spokesperson earlier wrote on social media: "We've arrested a man after we were called to reports of several collisions in Coventry this morning. We were called to Gosford Street, Coventry at around 8am to reports that three people, which included two pedestrians and a cyclist, had been seriously injured.

"It's believed that the car was involved in several collisions before colliding into a house on Beckbury Road. Two pedestrians, in separate incidents, were struck on Gosford Street followed by a collision with a cyclist on Woodway Lane. Officers including the drones team and dog unit were called to search for the suspect after a man made off from the scene. At around 9am a man was arrested on Beckbury Road, Coventry and is currently helping police with their enquiries.

"Gosford Street, Woodway Lane and surrounding roads will be closed as we investigate the circumstances surrounding the collisions. We are in the early stages of our investigation and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collisions or has any information that could help us to call us on 101 quoting log number 854 ."

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas