Birmingham teenager killed after being hit by police car
Harry Kirkham, 16, died in hospital from injuries sustained in the crash
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Your support makes all the difference.A 16-year-old boy has died after being hit by a police car in Birmingham.
Harry Kirkham was hit by the patrol vehicle whilst crossing Sutton New Road with his brother at 9pm on Wednesday.
They had just attended an evening service at The Potter’s House Christian Fellowship Church in the Erdington area.
In a statement, West Midlands police said the officer driving the car is not believed to have been on an emergency call at the time of the accident.
The officer, who is based in Sutton Coldfield, provided first aid at the scene before paramedics arrived.
Kirkham reportedly suffered cardiac arrest and was rushed to the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he died.
Police said that the officer was traumatised by the incident but was assisting the investigation and had been questioned by members of his force’s professional standards department.
In a post on the force’s Facebook page, Ch Insp Neil Hobson said: “No parent should have to lose a child, particularly in such tragic circumstances. This evening our thoughts are with Harry’s family following their tragic loss.
“As Harry was hit by a police car in West Midlands Police has informed the Independent Police Complaints Commission who continue to be updated.”
The 16-year-old, from the city’s Kingstanding area, had attended a weekly church service at the Potter’s House Christian Fellowship Church, according to the Birmingham Mail.
Pastor Lewis Claxton, from the church, told the paper that he ran to the scene after hearing the crash. “I was standing at the door of the church when I heard what seemed to sound like a car crash or collision.
“We saw a police car in the road, and we ran over to the young man, where he was put in the recovery position by the other man from the church. I went over to his younger brother, who was very upset.
“We’d had a service at 7:30pm and the brothers had attended for the last three weeks. We had just begun to get to know them. It was very traumatic.”
Police said they had spoken to witnesses and that the investigators were reviewing CCTV footage, which may have captured the moment the teenager was hit by the Peugeot.
Anyone who was in the area at the time and who has not yet spoken to police should call the West Midlands Regional Collision Unit on 101.