Walsall police this afternoon issued the following appeal for witnesses to come forward who may have seen the Mercedes convertible, pictured below, on Wednesday last (19th April 2017) after in was involved in a collision on the Lichfield Road in Rushall, as a result of which an elderly man lost his life.

Witnesses are asked to contact DS Paul Hughes at Walsall Police directly by calling 101.

My sympathies, and I’m sure those of blog reader go out to the family of the deceased gentleman, a tragic and awful incident. Readers are asked to be respectful of the family’s privacy in comment on social media, please.

West Midlands Police wrote:

Issue Date: Saturday, 22 April 2017

URGENT APPEAL: Did you see this car in Walsall on Wednesday 19 April?

Dud you see this car in Walsall on Wednesday? After the incident it would have been showing extensive damage to the front end and windscreen. Image from West Midlands Police.

Police have released an image of a Mercedes car that was involved in a collision in Walsall where a man lost his life, in a bid for witnesses to come forward.

It is believed that the Mercedes was involved in a theft at a petrol station in Ablewell Street at around 10.50am and drove away from the scene before being involved in a hit-and-run on Lichfield Road near to Rushall Care Home at around 11am.

The car struck an 80-year-old man who sadly died in hospital Friday afternoon (21 April).

Officers now need people to come forward who may have seen the car between Ablewell Street to where it was found abandoned on Brundard Close, Blakenall at around 2.40pm.

Following the collision the car did have extensive windscreen damage and would have been very distinctive.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit, said:

‘Do you live or work in Lichfield Road and have CCTV that may have captured the car? Were you driving along Lichfield Road on Wednesday and have dash cam footage that may have captured this car travelling?

‘Were you walking near to the Arboretum, Ablewell Street or Walsall and saw this car?

‘If so then I need you to call me urgently. It may seem that the information you may have is insignificant but it may be vital for me in my investigation.

‘We are supporting the man’s family at the sad time and our thoughts remain firmly with them.

‘My investigation is now focusing on bringing the person responsible for this tragedy to justice and I need people to come forward with any sightings of this car on the day of the collision.’

Anyone with information is urged to contact DS Paul Hughes urgently by calling 101.

A 41-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested and charged with serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and for having no insurance.

He appeared at Walsall Magistrates on Friday 21 April and was remanded in custody.