Man killed as car hits tree

A Shropshire man has been killed after a car being driven by his teenage nephew ploughed into a tree. The teenager has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The 35-year-old man, from Market Drayton, died when the silver Peugeot 206 lost control outside industrial units in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, yesterday.

Police said the 17-year-old driver, who was unhurt, was arrested and later released on bail. It is believed he had recently passed his driving test.

Firefighters managed to cut the victim free, but he died at the scene of the crash in Planetary Road, close to the Planetary Industrial Estate.

Police sealed off the road at its junction with Wednesfield Way for several hours after the smash, which happened at about 4.50pm.Motorists leaving the Wolverhampton Swimming & Fitness Centre car park, just yards from the scene, were prevented from turning right and instead diverted towards Wednesfield Way.

Acting Inspector Paul Richards, of Low Hill Police, said the young driver, from the Wednesfield area, had been travelling along Planetary Road from the direction of Wednesfield Way.

He said: "At some point, he's left the carriageway and struck a tree and a lamppost."

Murray MacGregor, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said an ambulance and three other emergency medical vehicles were sent to the scene. He said the dead man had suffered "very severe" injuries. Acting Inspector Richards urged anyone who had seen the car in the moments before the crash to call 0845 1135000.