WEAR your seatbelt - that's the message from a senior firefighter after a head-on crash in Solihull in which three people were seriously injured. None of the injured were thought to have been wearing a seat belt.
It happened in Damson Parkway, near the junction with Old Damson Lane, shortly before 11pm on Tuesday March 11 and involved a Saab 900 and a black London-style taxi cab.
The casualties had serious injuries and in one case were thought to be life-threatening.
None of the victims was trapped. Solihull Fire Station Watch Commander Stuart Murphy told the Solihull Times: "We do not think anyone involved was wearing a seat belt.
"A passenger in the black cab had gone through a glass partition into the driver's area and hit the windscreen.
"We understand the Saab was stolen and had a number of youths inside it. One of them was quite poorly.
"Another youth was arrested - and at least one is thought to have run off.
"As far as seatbelts are concerned, it seems it is a bit 'hip' among youths not to wear them. But the fact is that they can - and do - save lives."
Police and Solihull and Hay Mills fire crews were called to the scene, together with three ambulances and a paramedic car.
A teenager from the Saab was taken to Heartlands Hospital, as were a male passenger in his 30s from the black cab, and the 49-year-old driver. The driver had serious chest injuries.
Neck collars were put on two of the casualties, and they were taken to hospital on spine boards as a precaution.
The conditions of the casualties were not available as this week's Solihull Times went to press.
Police appealed for witnesses or anyone who saw the vehicles shortly before the crash to contact the road policing unit at Solihull on 0845 113 5000.
