CRASH investigators are appealing for witnesses after a man out celebrating New Year died after being hit by a car on a busy Sandwell road.

The man was hit in Wolverhampton Road, Warley, near the junction of Hagley Road West, just before 8pm last night (Saturday, December 31).

The 43-year-old, who is from the local area, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 46-year-old woman driver involved in the collision stopped nearby and was spoken to by officers – she is continuing to assist collision investigators.

Wolverhampton Road was closed for several hours last night as a crash reconstruction team examined the scene in a bid to piece together what happened.

DC Jamie Simon, from West Midlands Police’s Collision Investigation Unit, said: “It’s an extremely sad start to the New Year. A man has lost his life on what should have been joyful occasion.

“The junction where the collision occurred is very busy, probably more so last night with people heading out for New Year, and I have no doubt several people will have seen what happened or witnessed the build-up to the incident.

“I would urge them to get in touch and let us know what they saw as their information could be very important.”

Witnesses or anyone with information should call the collision investigation unit on 101, or email DC Simon on j.simon@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk.