A man has been left with serious injuries following a single-vehicle crash in Smethwick in the early hours of Tuesday, August 4. The incident unfolded on the A457, where an ambulance crew on routine duty came across a car that had burst into flames shortly before 5am.
Emergency response and injuries
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) confirmed that one of its ambulances was first on the scene, discovering the vehicle ablaze near the junction with Oldbury Road at 4.53am. Additional resources were immediately dispatched, including two more ambulances, two paramedic officers, and a MERIT trauma doctor accompanied by a critical care paramedic.
The driver, a man, was treated at the scene for serious injuries before being transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further care. A second man, who had stopped at the roadside to offer assistance, also sustained injuries and was taken to Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.
A WMAS spokesperson said: "One of our ambulances came across a car that was on fire near the junction of the A457 and Oldbury Road at 4.53am. A further two ambulances, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor, with a critical care paramedic, attended the scene. A man, from the car, was treated for serious injuries before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. A second man, who stopped to offer assistance, was also treated at the scene before being taken to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital."
Road closures and police investigation
Following the crash, multiple roads in the Smethwick area were closed, causing significant disruption for morning commuters. West Midlands Police issued a statement at around 7am outlining the closures, which included Oldbury Road at Woodland Drive, Telford Way at Kenrick Way Island, Tollhouse Way at Rolfe Street, and the Fenton Street junction with St Pauls Road.
Police have urged motorists to avoid the area and seek alternative routes, noting that the roads are expected to remain closed for some time while investigations continue. The force described the investigation as being in its "very early stages" and appealed for anyone with information, dashcam footage, or CCTV evidence to come forward.
Authorities have asked witnesses to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 553 of August 4. The cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed, and no further details about the condition of the injured men have been released at this time.
