Birmingham School Worker Struck by 'Coward' Driver in Hit-and-Run Incident
A school worker in Birmingham was knocked down by a car driver he branded a 'coward' after the motorist initially stopped but then fled the scene without providing assistance or details. The incident occurred in Hall Green, leaving the victim with serious injuries and raising concerns about road safety in the area.
Traumatic Collision at Hall Green Junction
The collision took place at the junction of Brooklands Road and School Road in Hall Green just before 5pm on Tuesday, January 27. Marlon Bhagwandeen, a manager at Hall Green Secondary School, was walking home from work when he was struck by a black Vauxhall Insignia that he says was driving 'at speed' as he attempted to cross the road.
"I was left in a drain in freezing, dirty, muddy water, left there like a stray dog," Marlon told BirminghamLive. "He didn't have the decency to stay with me. He chose to flee, like the coward he is."
According to Marlon's account, the driver initially stopped and said "I didn't see you brother, I'm so sorry" before attempting to pull him up from the ground. When bystanders advised against moving him due to potential injuries, the driver reportedly pleaded with Marlon not to make any insurance claims, mentioning he had children, before leaving the scene after approximately two minutes.
Community Response and Medical Treatment
A small crowd quickly gathered to assist Marlon, with multiple bystanders calling emergency services. The community rallied around the injured man, bringing blankets to keep him warm in the cold conditions. His headteacher, Miss Slater, also came to the scene and returned with blankets and drinks for those helping.
Marlon described experiencing significant pain, particularly in his right shoulder, with his left arm positioned awkwardly against his chest. Despite multiple emergency calls, it took approximately two-and-a-half hours for paramedics to arrive at the scene.
"When the paramedics arrived, two lovely guys, Jordan and John, assessed me and got boards under me," Marlon said. "They were very professional, very supportive and very kind. They explained every single thing to me that they were going to do."
The paramedics transported Marlon to Heartlands Hospital with suspected pelvic fractures, though his injuries were later determined not to be life-changing. He has since been signed off work and continues to experience pain and mobility issues.
Police Investigation and Driving Concerns
West Midlands Police confirmed they are investigating the collision and said the car did not stop at the scene. They are carrying out a number of enquiries as their investigation progresses and have asked anyone with information to come forward.
Marlon expressed frustration with the police response, stating: "I have been in contact with West Midlands Police three times but haven't had any updates about what's going on."
The incident has highlighted broader concerns about driving standards in Birmingham. Marlon, who has lived in the city for eight years, described driving across Birmingham as "atrocious to say the least." He noted that another hit-and-run accident occurred on School Road just three days before his incident, with the victim sustaining worse injuries.
Ambulance Service Response Times
The delayed ambulance response became a point of contention, with the first 999 call made at 5:02pm but the ambulance not arriving until 7:09pm. Marlon was told by a call handler that he was not a priority because he was breathing and conscious, while other emergencies like heart attacks were occurring across Birmingham.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service offered sincere apologies for the delayed response but explained that hospital handover delays significantly impact their ability to reach patients quickly. "The West Midlands has the worst hospital handover delays in the country," she stated, noting that on the day of Marlon's incident, the service lost more than 1,470 hours in hospital handover delays.
The ambulance service acknowledged the need for improvement and highlighted measures being taken, including increasing the number of paramedics and nurses in control rooms and deploying more ambulances on the road.
Psychological Impact and Ongoing Recovery
Marlon has experienced sleep issues since the incident, dreaming that he remains in the freezing muddy puddle where he was left after being hit. He described the driver's actions as "outrageously despicable" and hopes dashcam footage that may have captured the driver's face will help police identify the individual responsible.
The school worker's experience serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of hit-and-run incidents and the importance of road safety measures in urban areas. As Marlon continues his recovery, the search for the driver who fled continues, with police urging anyone with information to contact them.
