The owner of a Sparkbrook martial arts gym has demanded urgent action after a 13-year-old boy suffered a suspected broken leg when he was hit by a car while on his way to training.
The incident happened on Montgomery Street on Thursday, July 23, and police are still trying to trace the driver. The teenager was believed to be heading to Ronin Muay Thai, the gym run by Yusaf Khan, when he was struck. West Midlands Police confirmed the boy was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries.
Mr Khan, 53, a former police community support officer who now teaches martial arts full time, said the crash was an accident waiting to happen. 'It was a ticking timebomb,' he said.
Gym owner's road safety warning
Mr Khan, who spent nearly 15 years as a PCSO before leaving to pursue his passion for martial arts, said dangerous driving on the street had been getting worse. He told BirminghamLive: 'In the last three years, it's become more of an issue. I believe the cause is younger drivers having more access to high-powered vehicles, especially in this area.'
The gym owner, who grew up in Balsall Heath and was inspired by Bruce Lee movies, claimed speeding motorists were overtaking law-abiding drivers and ignoring speed limits. 'As a driver, you're always looking at your rear mirror. You're faced with a decision on whether to put your foot down or pull over,' he explained.
His main concern now is the safety of his young students. He said he had already moved most classes to mornings because there was less chance of encountering 'these idiots driving at speed.'
Multiple crashes on Montgomery Street
The collision involving the schoolboy came just days after a motorbike and a car were involved in another crash on the same road. Montgomery Street has seen several road traffic accidents in recent weeks, according to locals and images from the scene.
Mr Khan said the latest victim might never be able to train again. He revealed that the boy's older brother had posted in a student group chat about the 'traumatic effect' on their family. The gym owner also said parents were now reluctant to let their children attend classes unless they could be driven there.
'I've had parents contact me saying they are concerned for their children, and unless they can bring them here, they're no longer sending them,' he said.
Calls for community action and crossings
Mr Khan wants to see a pedestrian crossing installed outside the gym, along with traffic calming measures. He said the whole community needed to send a clear message to reckless and hit-and-run drivers.
'I think the community needs to come together now and say this has to stop. There needs to be a community response to road crime and hit-and-run drivers. The criminal system needs to hit them with higher penalties,' he said.
'We're trying to get kids away from antisocial behaviour and crime into the gym - but we can't even get them in here because of idiots racing around.'
Police investigation underway
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: 'We are investigating following a collision involving a car and a pedestrian in Montgomery Street, Birmingham on July 23. A teenager was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries and enquiries are ongoing to identify the driver of the car involved.'
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 4458 of 23 July.
