Driver dies at wheel of car on Wem road

A man has died after apparently falling ill at the wheel of his car on a rural Shropshire road. The man is believed to be a taxi driver from the Oswestry area.

Despite efforts to resuscitate him, the man, who has not been named, was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident near Wem yesterday.

The victim is believed to have come to a stop after his blue Volkswagen Passat estate clipped a lamppost on an unclassified road near Newtown CE Primary School.

It happened shortly before 3pm and police said a member of the public also tried to save the man's life before paramedics arrived.

The incident closed the road for nearly three hours for investigation work.

West Mercia Force duty inspector Martyn Barnes said they were alerted to the incident by the ambulance service. "They told us a 60-year-old male had had an accident. A member of the public attempted to resuscitate the male. They think the deceased was a taxi driver," he said.

He added the driver was believed to have fallen ill at the wheel but a post mortem would have to be carried out.

Mr Barnes said: "A witness travelling in the opposite direction said the car pulled up very slowly and appeared to have clipped the lamppost. Ambulance personnel worked on the male but he was pronounced dead at the scene."

Sergeant Ian Brogan, of West Mercia's operations support team, said: "At this stage the incident is being treated as a road traffic collision but police are investigating the possibility that the driver, who is believed to be in his 60s, may have been taken ill at the wheel."

Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to call them on 0300 333 3000.