Family critical over pace of police 'hit-and-run' investigation

Katrina Duvall said the family was disappointed with the progress of the investigation

The family of a man who died in a suspected hit-and-run crash have criticised the pace of the police investigation.

Michael Bland, 49, was found with serious injuries in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, on 28 April but no arrests have been made.

Mr Bland's sister, Katrina Duvall, said family and friends were distraught over a lack of progress.

West Midlands Police said it remained "very much an active investigation".

The family said they have been left confused by conflicting accounts of what may have happened and accused the force of making errors and failing to keep them updated on progress.

"The police investigation has been a sham from the very beginning," said Mrs Duvall.

"First they said he was knocked over, then he fell and later that he was in fact knocked over. It's the rollercoaster we have been on.

"I had to hound the police for updates and write emails of complaint."

Mr Bland, who ran a payroll services company in Wolverhampton, had been dropped off by a taxi after a night out with work colleagues.

West Midlands Police did issue an appeal last year to encourage people who were on Old Hill between 02:40 BST and 03:50 BST on 28 April to come forward, as well as appealing for dashcam footage.

Michael Bland died after what police believed was a hit-and-run crash

Earlier this week, Mr Bland's former partner, Vic Oliver, placed fresh floral tributes on a bench close to where his body was found.

Handwritten cards also paid tribute to a "loving son" and "generous friend" while pictures showed Mr Bland with his six-year-old daughter, who has a range of severe disabilities.

Vic Oliver, the daughter's mother and Mr Bland's former partner, said being left in the dark felt excruciating.

"One of the main problems is the lack of closure. She really misses her dad but can't explain it and that's one of the hardest things.

"I can't talk to her or say where he is or what has happened, he just wasn't there one day.

"You're constantly thinking what was it that night, what did happen, who is responsible?"

Mrs Duvall said she was told by officers a vehicle was seized for forensic examination.

"They said they'd found a car, weeks later, and they'd taken it in and then they basically told us there was very little hope of this being solved," she said.

Family and friends left tributes this week to Mr Bland at the spot where he was found

Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from West Midlands Police, said there had been "absolutely no delay in beginning the investigation, the post-mortem or the gathering of evidence and following extensive enquiries".

The force said on 9 June last year, a 23-year-old woman was voluntarily interviewed under caution on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and a car was forensically examined.

Det Sgt Hughes said a police liaison officer was working with the family and added: "Sadly, answers are not always instant."

Mr Bland's family has now focused on new social media appeals, sharing information and reaching out to potential witnesses themselves.

Mrs Duvall said her confidence in West Midlands Police had waned.

"I have so much anger because someone just left him here and they tore the absolute heart out of his family and friends," she said.

"We all lost someone very special that day.

"To the person responsible I'd say come forward. You took away a beautiful person, a man who all his life wanted to be a dad to little girl."