Racers causing hell near hit-and-run scene - MP

A two-year-old boy died and four adults were injured in the crash on Saturday night

Street racers are causing "hell" for residents living near to where a two-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run crash, an MP said.

The little boy died and four adults were injured when their vehicle was hit by a stolen Porsche on Dartmouth Road, Smethwick, on Saturday night.

Police believe the stolen car was driving away from a roundabout on Kenrick Way, which residents say is a hotspot for street racers.

"Residents live through hell every Friday and Saturday night, dreading that these cars will turn up," said Sarah Coombes, the Labour MP for West Bromwich said.

"We've had so many crashes on this stretch of road, we need to do something about it," she told BBC Radio WM.

She added that the "absolutely tragic" death of a young child had highlighted "a terrible ongoing issue".

Driver urged to come forward

Ms Coombes had raised Kenrick Way in Parliament just over two weeks ago, on 27 November, saying that "extremely dangerous" street-racing had been "going on for years and years".

West Midlands Police said the crash happened between a grey Porsche Cayenne and a Toyota just before 23:00 GMT on Saturday, with the toddler and the four injured adults travelling in the latter car.

The force added that the Porsche driver had fled the scene and urged them to come forward.

Police said on Monday that a woman, aged 29, and a man, aged 30, remained in a serious condition in hospital. A 30-year-old woman had been discharged from hospital and a 30-year-old man was still receiving treatment.

Ms Coombes said residents had told her that racing took place on Kenrick Way on Saturday night but it was not yet known if this was linked to the tragedy.

She said more police resources were needed to stop the street racers, so there were enough officers to carry out "stakeout" operations where they waited for drivers to turn up.

She added that there was no speed camera on the stretch of road in question, which has a 40mph speed limit.

Russell, a Kenrick Way resident who has campaigned to stop the racing, told BBC Radio WM that racers drove at speeds of over 90mph.