A West Midlands Police investigation has determined that a 27-year-old father was intoxicated and speeding when he crashed his Mercedes into a tree on Ridgacre Road, Quinton, in the early hours of March 21, 2026. Lee Bowden, from Wolverhampton, died at the scene after losing control of the vehicle while returning home from a night out with friends.
Crash details and police findings
The collision occurred shortly after midnight on Saturday, March 21, as Mr Bowden drove along Stoney Lane with his girlfriend. According to the inquest record, the grey Mercedes struck the central reservation kerb on a left-hand bend where the road becomes Ridgacre Road, causing the vehicle to skid sideways and collide with a substantial tree. Emergency services pronounced Mr Bowden dead at the scene at 1.02am.
An investigation by West Midlands Police concluded that the cause of the collision was driving at speed while intoxicated. His medical cause of death was multiple injuries from a road traffic collision, with alcohol intoxication also recorded on his death certificate.
Tributes to a devoted father
At the time of his death, Mr Bowden had recently secured a promotion as a regional coordinator for the AA and had just moved into his own flat. His family described him as a 'loving father, son, brother and partner' who left behind two young daughters. In a statement, they said: 'Lee was a loving father, son, brother and partner. He left behind two beautiful girls and an endless amount of people who would call him a true friend.'
They added that he was a devoted Liverpool FC fan who would watch his team play whenever he wasn't with his children, and that 'he had recently secured a promotion in his job with the AA, got his own flat and his future was looking bright.'
Coroner's conclusion
Assistant Coroner Ian Dreelan recorded the details of the incident, stating: 'Mr Bowden was the driver of a grey Mercedes car in the early hours of March 21, 2026 travelling along Ridgacre Road, Quinton, from the direction of Hagley Road West and Stoney Lane, having been out socialising with friends the previous evening.' He noted that the vehicle struck the central reservation kerb, causing it to skid sideways and collide with a tree. Mr Bowden was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.02am.
The coroner added that the police investigation found the cause of the collision was driving at speed whilst intoxicated.
