Reward to trace fatal Tipton hit-and-run driver

A £20,000 reward is being offered over the death of a man in a hit-and-run crash last year.

Darren Whitehouse, 43, was on a pavement talking to a friend when he was struck by a car in Tipton, West Midlands, on 27 February.

His mother, Susanne Timmins, heard the crash take place and made an emotional appeal for help from the community.

"I really need someone to come forward. It could have been anybody's son," she said.

"I heard the accident from where I was sitting on my sofa."

Crimestoppers is offering the money for anonymous information to trace those responsible.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the crash but no-one has been charged, they added.

A vehicle recovered after the collision, in St Mark's Road, had been stolen, police said.

Mr Whitehouse was a full-time carer for his mother, who is disabled, and she said she needed justice for her son.

"He will never be forgotten. The community that come together to help us as well, I want to thank all of them," she said.

Dashcam footage of the moment before the car, a silver Infiniti, hit Mr Whitehouse has been released.

He was standing on the pavement, speaking to a friend, when the speeding car hit him, police said.

His aunt, Christine Beckett, said: "We, as a family, are still waiting for him to come back. He was standing on the pavement minding his own business, talking to a friend."

Further CCTV video captured the vehicle speeding away and, at one point, it careered across a grass verge.

Det Sgt Paul Hughes said Tipton is a tight community and somebody must have information about the death.

"Very close, very supportive community, everyone looks after everyone in Tipton, I do believe someone has the information we need," he said.

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