West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner Mat MacDonald says ‘hit-and-run’ Stechford driver must hand themselves in as “trauma” ripples through community

Birmingham residents have been left “traumatised” and “anxious” following a ‘hit-and-run’ crash on their doorstep.

Stechford residents are demanding answers after a man died folllowing being struck by a vehicle on Audley Road in Stechford at around 9.10pm on Sunday, February 9.

Speaking to BirminghamLive at the junction of Flaxley and Audley Roads on February 13, West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner Mat MacDonald said “every Stechford resident” he has spoken to since the tragedy is concerned about the safety of city roads.

READ MORE: Police issue update after Stechford ‘hit-and-run’ death as driver continues to be hunted

Watch our interview with West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner Mat MacDonald at the top of this story.

Mat spoke as police probe a separate fatal crash which occurred two days later and saw a man killed following a collision involving two vehicles on Stratford Road in Hall Green

The second fatal smash killed a Honda driver in his 50s at around 7.15pm on Tuesday, February 11, with two men, aged 18 and 19, later turning themselves in and being detained on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

At the time of writing, police were continuing to hunt the Stechford motorist, who “failed to stop at the scene.”

On the Stechford crash, Mat said: “I think it is absolutely horrifying news someone going about their business on a Sunday evening [was killed] at the hands of a driver who has fled the scene.

“I know the police are working incredibly hard behind the scenes.

“To the driver, you need to hand yourself in. They will be coming and knocking on your door, these are dedicated resourced people and they don’t mess about, this person needs to hand themselves in immediately.”

Mat spent Thursday afternoon speaking to residents in the area with PCC Simon Foster, Superintendent Emlyn Richards of Birmingham East, the Lord Mayor councillor Marje Bridle and leader of Birmingham City Council John Cotton.

“We have had a really good walk around the area today with the local residents, police and crime commissioner Simon Foster and the mayor, it has been really eye-opening.

“The road where the collision took place is a speeding hot spot.

“Every resident we spoke to said it causes concern.”

NHS doctor Mat works for one day a week as West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner along with new Active Travel Commissioner Beccy Marston to help make the roads across the region safer.

He explained: “There is a need for greater investment in road safety.

“City wide and region-wide, my job now is to show that we back our local authorities in any kind of bold plans on how to tackle this issue.

“We will fight tooth and nail for money and safety.

“People in this community have been left particularly anxious they are incredibly frustrated and many feel that there is not enough done about it currently”

When asked if there’s city-wide fatigue following the multiple road fatalities, Mat replied: “There’s enormous appetite for things to be done, we are here to facilitate that.

“Safer streets will remarkably improve people’s lives.”

Giving an insight into the strength of local feeling, Amjid Afzal, a resident of Flaxley Road, a stone’s throw from the fatal site, told BirminghamLive he has raised concern about road safety with the police and council for years.

“I have been complaining to the council and police for years asking for better enforcement and speed bumps.

“I ask how many fatalities do they want before they take action?”

He added: “I see cars overtaking two cars and the next thing you hear is a big bang and police are there.

“It is a combination of people to blame for not taking action in wards where there are more accidents.

“We can’t wait another few weeks or months before something is done.”

BirminghamLive also heard from Cath Palgrave and Martin Price, Co-chairs of city campaign group, Better Streets for Birmingham said.

The group co-chairs said: “We send our deepest condolences to the man’s friends and family who must be going through an unimaginable pain.

“Everyone should get home safely no matter how they travel.

“We continue to ask our authorities to make faster progress on addressing the road safety emergency, which is quickly approaching its 200th day.”

Mat went on to add: “Every fatality, every serious injury on our road network is horrifying.

“When you strip these events down these are sudden, unexpected and violent deaths that occur in the middle of public space where there will be a lot of witnesses.

“The trauma of these events ripples outwards.

“There are so many people that are impacted by the psychological trauma of these incidents.”