Lorry flips onto side and car overturns as Storm Darragh batters the region

Multiple crashes have been reported in the West Midlands region as Storm Darragh arrived with strong winds and rain. A lorry flipped onto its side near Bassetts Pole roundabout in Sutton Coldfield[1], while a car overturned on its roof at The Rock in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. Atherstone & Coleshill Police said: "Please be aware there has been a collision close to Bassetts Pole roundabout and a lorry has flipped onto its side.

Traffic on the nearby A38, A446, and A453 is likely to be affected as Highways clear the road of debris. We'd advise you to avoid the area where possible and follow any diversion." Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported that the A446 London Road remains closed as crews work to clear a diesel spillage.

Inrix wrote: "A446 London Road in both directions closed due to overturned lorry and spillage of diesel from A38 (Bassetts Pole Island, Staffordshire[2]) to Withy Hill Road (Carroway Head)." READ MORE: Storm Darragh live as Birmingham faces major travel disruption amid Met Office warnings[3] Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp[4], click the link to join

National Express (NX) West Midlands said at 8.13am today (December 7) that a car overturned at The Rock. As a result, it left the Number 1 bus service - from Dudley[5] to Tettenhall Wood - diverted. The bus operator wrote: "Service update.

Due to a overturned car at the Rock service 1 is on diversion." The operator said the service to Tettenhall to was running on a normal route. However NX West Midlands provided an updated route to Wolverhampton: School Road, Church Road, The Holloway, Bridgnorth Road, Compton Road West, Clark Road, Paget Road and Tettenhall Road. It comes as the Met Office warned of travel disruption in the region due to Storm Darragh.

The forecaster said: "It is likely that some roads and bridges could close, with impacts from falling trees.

There is likely to be longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected."

References

1. ^ Sutton Coldfield (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Staffordshire (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ Storm Darragh live as Birmingham faces major travel disruption amid Met Office warnings (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ BirminghamLive WhatsApp (chat.whatsapp.com)
5. ^ Dudley (www.birminghammail.co.uk)