A premature two-week-old baby boy who was killed when an untaxed BMW driver ‘lost control’ and slammed a mother and her pram into a wall on a busy high street was on his first trip out with his 18-year-old parents, it emerged today.
The baby, named by relatives as Ciaran, was killed in the collision at around 4pm on Easter Sunday. The driver fled the crash site in Brownhills, Walsall, but 34-year-old man was arrested around four miles away in Bloxwich shortly afterwards. He is being held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The baby was killed in the collision in front of his parents Camaron Morris and Codie Holyman, who were left ‘hysterical’. Police believe the tragedy happened after the BMW1 Series crashed into a Ford B-Max before ploughing onto the pavement and pinning the mother and baby against a wall.
The driver of the white BMW has not paid road tax since October 22, according to DVLA records seen by MailOnline. It has an up to date MOT.
Ciaran’s great aunt Lisa Forde, 58, from Brownhills, West Mids., said: ‘I’m Ciaran’s great auntie on his dad’s side.
‘It’s just heartbreaking. I don’t think there’s anything else I can say.’
A friend of the parents who were laying flowers at the scene today told MailOnline they were ‘numb with grief’ at the loss of their son – which he said happened on ‘maybe the first time’ they had taken the baby out together.
Officers are investigating after a mother and baby were pinned against a wall after a BMW driver careered onto the pavement on Sunday. Pictured is the crash scene, with a BMW pinned against a shop front
A well-wisher lays flower at the crash site this morning, which was reopened this morning after previously being taped off by police
Flowers piled at the crash site by mourners this morning, who included friends of the family and local people who had heard about the tragedy and wanted to pay their respects
A note that was left at the scene today by a relative which paid tribute to ‘beautiful baby Ciaran’
A man who was in tears as he laid a floral tribute said: ‘Yes I know the family and all I can say is they are numb with grief.
‘It was maybe the first time they had taken the baby out together and this happens.
‘It’s an unimaginable horror they are going through. One second and the most precious thing in their lives is gone.’
Another man, who came to lay flowers, added: ‘It’s just awful. I know the family very well and they are a really, really nice family.
‘My best mate is part of the family and I know the baby’s mum and uncle.’
Another woman who came to lay flowers said: ‘I didn’t know them personally but knew of them.
‘They were really great parents and he was a sweet baby.’
Police stood guard at the scene of the tragedy which happened at around 4pm on Easter Sunday.
The metal shutter of the shop where the crash happened was twisted and buckled and bricks remained strewn across the path.
Stuart Evans, 52, a builder from Pelsall, West Mids., lay flowers on the pavement.
He said: ‘I read about what happened on Facebook and just felt I wanted to pay my respects. I’ve got eight grandchildren myself and you can’t imagine how you’d feel in the family’s predicament.
‘It’s such a tragedy and terrible for the family. It’s heartbreaking to think what they are going through. I do know there’s a lot of dangerous driving around here.’
The baby was taken to hospital by air ambulance but could not be saved.
A relative has also suffered a shoulder injury but no one else was injured.
Last night the was seen with its shattered bonnet against a shop front.
The driver is believed to have run away on foot but MailOnline has contacted West Midlands Police to confirm this.
Speaking to Sun Online, one witness told how the baby’s parents were ‘hysterical’ after the incident, with passers-by attempting to calm them down.
‘All I saw was a car that had pinned a baby in a buggy up an iron gate,’ the witness said.
One letter contained a poem for the baby, while other mourners left behind flowers and stuffed toys as tributes
Flowers left at the scene on High Street, Brownhills, near Walsall in the West Midlands, following the tragedy yesterday
Police officers (left) and a woman (right) laying flowers this morning at the High Street in Brownhills next to where the baby was killed yesterday
The point at which the car smashed into the shop front, which was marked by flowers left by well-wishers today
The driver of the white BMW has not paid road tax since October 22, according to DVLA records seen by MailOnline. It has an up to date MOT.
Sergeant Mark Crozier, from the collision investigation unit, said: ‘A baby has tragically died and we’ll be doing all we can to support his family during this deeply devastating time.
‘We’re in the process of speaking to witnesses and establishing the circumstances around this collision.
‘I would ask anyone who was in the area, and has information which can assist our inquiries, to come forward.
‘We understand the shock this will have caused but I would ask people not to speculate on what happened.’
Police said they are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the area and may have dashcam footage, either before or at the time of the collision.
Anyone with information can contact police via FL-COLLISION-INVEST@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk, via Live Chat or by calling 101.
The baby was taken to hospital by paramedics but could not be saved. A relative has also suffered a shoulder injury but no one else was injured
Police said they are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the area and may have dashcam footage, either before or at the time of the collision