Father 'fighting for his life' after suspected road rage attack in Birmingham

'This was a vicious attack on a family man who was on his way home to his partner and four-year-old child,' says a detective constable with West Midlands Police

The junction in Birmingham where a van driver is believed to have 'viciously' punched the 37-year-old father of one (Google Maps)

A father is fighting for his life after allegedly being punched during a suspected road rage attack at a busy junction.

The 37-year-old man was the victim of what police are calling a "vicious" and "unprovoked" attack after he and a van driver are thought to have bumped into each other's vehicles in Birmingham.

After stepping out of their cars, the van driver is believed to have punched the victim, causing him serious head injuries, before driving off.

West Midlands Police said in a statement that the father, who has a four-year-old child, was "in a critical condition" in hospital.

"The van driver is alleged to have punched the 37-year-old driver in what has been described as unprovoked attack. He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains unconscious and in a critical condition," said the statement.

The incident occurred at about 6.30 pm on 5 August on a busy crossroads junction between Gressel Lane, Tile Cross Road and East Meadway in Kitts Green near Birmingham International Airport.

Detective Constable Katie Lees, from Birmingham's Violent Crime Team, said the victim's partner had become worried when he did not return home. She also called on the perpetrator to "search his conscience" and turn himself in.

"This was a vicious attack on a family man who was on his way home to his partner and four-year-old child," said Detective Constable Lees.

"The road is a really busy road and we are sure that there were lots of people who would have seen what happened and we are appealing for them to come forward.

"The victim phoned home as he left work - like he does every night - to say that he was on his way.

"His partner became worried when he didn't arrive home and it must have been devastating for them to discover the news that he had been injured in such a random and vicious attack."

Ann Pringle, a 70-year-old who lives nearby, said the junction in question needed a camera fitted to the traffic lights because of the number of incidents which occurred there.

"There is always trouble at the junction. It's a busy crossroads and there's always beeping because people don't want to wait to turn," she said.

"You probably get a bump once a month and a lot more near misses than that.

"They need to do something about it. I think there should be cameras on the traffic lights."

Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, added: "I didn't see what happened but when I came out he was lying there and people were holding his head.

"Someone told me he was conscious when the paramedics arrived so I'm not sure what has happened.

"The police have been back doing door-to-doors earlier this morning, so I thought it was serious.

"It's horrible to think he was driving home to his child and then this has happened."

Anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police on 101. Alternatively people can leave information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Additional reporting from the Press Association