Tributes have been paid to a mum and daughter who were killed in a horror hit-and-run crash on Boxing Day.
Linda Philips, 72, and Amanda Riley, 49, died after their MG ZS was involved in a smash with a BMW 4 Series and a quad bike.
Emergency services rushed to the scene in Shard End, Birmingham, shortly after 8pm last Tuesday (26/12) but the pair were pronounced dead at the scene.
Four other people, including a baby, were rushed to hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Police arrested two men in connection with the collision, which happened at the junction of Kitt’s Green Road and Mackadown Lane.
One has been de-arrested and will be spoken to by officers once he has recovered from his injuries. The other has since been released with no further action.
Today (Thurs) the heartbroken family of Linda and Amanda released an emotional tribute via West Midlands Police.
They said: "Linda and Amanda, mother and daughter were cruelly taken from us on Boxing Day, 26 December 2023.
"Linda was a beautiful and dearly loved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, auntie, and so much more.
"Her husband, children, grandchildren, and family loved Linda very much, and Linda absolutely adored her family.
"Amanda was a beautiful and much-loved mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and auntie.
"Amanda's parents, daughters, and grandchildren loved her so much, and Amanda was the apple of her grandchildren's eye.
"The family are devastated, and respectfully ask for privacy at this extremely difficult time.
"We ask, if anyone has any information, however small, please come forward, so that the families can get justice for Linda and Amanda."
Shocking footage showing the moment one car exploded in a fireball emerged in the aftermath of the crash.
One eyewitness, who has lived in the area for ten years, said previously he believed the BMW had been racing the quad bike shortly before the collision.
He said: “This road is a nightmare. It’s lawless with idiots using the road as a race track.
“The junction where it happened is four lanes with traffic lights and the smash happened just after the lights.
“From my background I know how fast a car must be going to crash in flames and the BMW was well alight.
“From what I have heard is the BMW and the quad bike were racing and as the BMW sped through the lights, it hit the other car.
“From the ages of the people in the other car it would appear it’s a family. Probably visiting relatives for Christmas.
“It’s a devastating tragedy but it’s something I’ve feared for ages. Criminals and boy racers have no fear of the police around here.
“Over the last three years, I’ve noticed loads more quad bikes tearing around the roads.
“I’m guessing they are easier to use to escape from the police and they are not as easy to trace.”
Police revealed previously the quad bike rider left the scene and was being hunted by officers.
The BMW driver also fled the scene but a man was arrested a short time later on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Another man was also arrested for assisting an offender.
Detective Sergeant Julie Lyman, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said previously: “Our thoughts remain with the families who have been affected by this awful collision.
“It remains vital that we fully establish exactly what happened with all the vehicles involved."
Anyone with dashcam, or with any information about what happened, is asked to contact police by calling 101 or via Live Chat online quoting 2873 26/12/23.
You can also email investigators direct at sciu@westmidlands.police.uk.
