A man has tragically died after being struck by a police car responding to an emergency call in Birmingham.

The incident occurred shortly before 7pm on Wednesday evening (March 19) on Yardley Road in Acocks Green, near the junction with Florence Road. Emergency services, including police and ambulance crews, rushed to the scene, but the pedestrian — a man in his 40s — was sadly pronounced dead at the roadside.

West Midlands Police confirmed that the marked police vehicle involved had been responding to a 999 call relating to reports of a man armed with a knife in nearby Warwick Road, approximately a mile from where the collision occurred.

The force has said the man’s family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said:

“A man has sadly died after a collision involving a police car and a pedestrian in Birmingham tonight.

“It happened on Yardley Road, near the junction with Florence Road in Acocks Green, just before 7pm. The pedestrian, a man aged 40, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The marked police vehicle was responding to a 999 call relating to a report of a man carrying knives on Warwick Road in Acocks Green at the time of the collision.

“The family of the man who died is being supported, and we are liaising with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).”

Both officers inside the police vehicle were uninjured in the incident.

Yardley Road remains closed in both directions from Oxford Road to The Avenue, with National Express West Midlands diverting bus services 11A and 11C via Stockfield Road and Warwick Road while investigations continue at the scene.

Police have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

“Anyone with information is urged to contact us via Live Chat on our website or call 101, quoting log number 4726 of 19 March.”

The IOPC has confirmed it has been informed of the incident and will assess whether a full investigation is required, as is standard procedure in incidents involving police contact.

Other officers who attended the original 999 call for the reported knife incident found no trace of disorder or weapons upon arrival at the scene.

The area remains cordoned off as collision investigators continue their work into the evening.