General News of Sunday, 17 December 2017
Source: bbc.com
Three vehicles were involved in the accident on Belgrave Middleway, near Edgbaston, at about 01:00 GMT.
Three men in one car died at the scene and a fourth is critically injured in hospital. The driver of a taxi and his two passengers were also killed.
West Midlands Police described dealing with the wreckage as "very difficult and upsetting" and said officers were investigating how the crash happened.
The road has been closed and police have appealed for witnesses.
The first car in the crash had suffered extensive damage but, "astonishingly", the man and the woman inside managed to get out with relatively minor injuries, an ambulance service spokesman said.
"The second vehicle, a black cab, was on its side. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the driver and he was confirmed dead at the scene."
The taxi driver has been named locally as father of six Imtiaz Mohammed, who worked for Castle Cars.
The female passenger was also confirmed dead at the scene, while her male companion died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
There were four men in the third car, and all had been thrown from the vehicle, the ambulance spokesman said.
"Tragically, three of them were confirmed dead at the scene."
The fourth was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and is in a critical condition.
Three other cars were caught up in the crash and suffered minor damage trying to avoid it.
Michelle Brotherton, from the ambulance service, said her staff had dealt with 13 patients in total.
As well as those who died and the man in a critical condition, four people were taken to Heartlands Hospital where their condition is believed to be non-life threatening.
A further two patients were "discharged on scene".
Police, @WestMidsFire & @OFFICIALWMAS are responding to a very serious crash on Lee Bank Middleway in Edgbaston, Birmingham near to the tunnel which goes beneath Bristol Street. Call received at 1.11am Sun 17/12. Avoid area. Road will be closed for a very long time.
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) December 17, 2017
All first responders at the scene are doing their very best in very difficult and upsetting circumstances. This is a very serious incident. If you saw the crash happen or the circumstances leading up to it, please call us now on 101.
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) December 17, 2017