'Harrowing' multi-vehicle crash leaves six dead in Birmingham

Six people have been killed and another critically injured in a "very harrowing" crash in Birmingham.

The collision, which involved six vehicles, happened shortly after 1am at the entrance to the underpass on Lee Bank Middleway near Edgbaston.

West Midlands Police warned the road was likely to remain closed throughout Sunday, with detectives describing the circumstances of the "serious collision" as "very difficult and upsetting".

Three men were killed after being thrown out of their car, while a black cab driver and his two passengers also died. Three other cars collided as they tried to avoid the initial crash.

The taxi driver has been named as Imtiaz Mohammed, who had six children all aged under 15.

One of Mr Mohammed's children was due to celebrate their birthday on Monday.

Liaqat Ali, his cousin, said: "He was a very nice guy, caring and hard-working."

The taxi driver worked for local firm Castle Cars, which is based in Sandwell, West Midlands, and in Birmingham.

Debbie Ormsby, in a statement on behalf of the cab company, said: "Imtiaz was a wonderful young hard-working family man.

"We were shocked and devastated to learn this morning that it was Imtiaz who lost his life in the serious road traffic collision which had been reported by our drivers in the early hours of Sunday.

"He was loved and respected by all who worked with him and he will be greatly missed.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all the other families affected by this tragedy."

A gofundme webpage was set up to raise money in his memory.

Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Superintendent Sean Phillips said it was "way too early" to speculate on the reason for the crash.

He told a news conference: "It will take some time to unpick the scene and just understand exactly what's happened. It would be unfair for me to speculate at this time."

Supt Phillips said the speed of the vehicles and whether all those involved were wearing seatbelts would be looked at during the investigation.

The road had been gritted at 5pm the previous evening, he confirmed.

West Midlands Ambulance Service, which dispatched five ambulances and three paramedics, described the scene as "extensive and extremely complex".

Paramedics dealt with 13 patients in total.

A spokesman said a man and woman in the first car "astonishingly" escaped with "relatively minor injuries" despite extensive damage to their vehicle.

Two passengers in the back of the taxi, a man and a woman, were quickly removed by the emergency services. The woman was confirmed dead at the scene, while the man died in hospital.

Four men were travelling in the third car involved in the crash, and three of them were also confirmed dead at the crash site.

The other man has been taken to the major trauma centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, where he remains in a critical condition.

Two others suffered minor injuries.

Supt Phillips urged anyone with images to send them to police rather than sharing them on the internet.