Key Points

• A male pedestrian died after being hit by a car on the M42 near Solihull.
• The collision occurred on the southbound carriageway between Junction 4 for Shirley/Solihull and Junction 3A for the M40.
• West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service crews responded following emergency calls at around 11:09 pm.
• Paramedics, a MERIT trauma team, and a MARS doctor gave advanced life support, but the man died at the scene.
• West Midlands Police are not treating the death as suspicious and have referred the case to the coroner.
• Officers have informed the man’s next of kin.

Solihull (Birmingham Express) September 11, 2026 – A male pedestrian has tragically lost his life following a collision with a motor vehicle on the M42 motorway near Solihull. Emergency services scrambled to the southbound carriageway between Junction 4 and Junction 3A late on Sunday night following urgent reports of a pedestrian on the live carriageway. Despite the prompt arrival of emergency responder teams and prolonged efforts to administer advanced life support, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. West Midlands Police have launched standard enquiries and confirmed that the fatality is not being treated as suspicious, with the matter passed to the HM Coroner.

What Occurred During the M42 Southbound Incident near Solihull?

As reported by Senior Reporter Lauren Chaloner of the Bromsgrove Advertiser, emergency services were alerted to a serious road traffic collision involving a pedestrian on the southbound section of the M42 between Junction 4 and Junction 3A. The emergency call was logged at approximately 11.09 pm on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

Upon arrival, emergency service colleagues who were first on scene were found providing basic life support to an un-ignited male pedestrian who was in a critical condition after colliding with a car. Specialized medical units, including an ambulance, a paramedic officer, a critical care specialist paramedic, a Medical Emergency Response Incident Team (MERIT) trauma crew, and a Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS) doctor, were dispatched to support life-saving efforts.

What Have Emergency Services and Police Statements Confirmed?

As reported by Claire Harrison of Coventry Live, a official spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service details the immediate response delivered by pre-hospital emergency medical teams:

“When ambulance staff arrived, they found emergency service colleagues providing basic life support to a male pedestrian in a critical condition after reportedly being involved in a collision with a vehicle. The team of ambulance staff quickly commenced advanced life support. Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man, and he was confirmed deceased on scene a short time later.”

As reported by reporter Nick Horner of Birmingham Live, West Midlands Police released a formal statement confirming that non-suspicious death protocols had been initiated following the collision:

“We were called last night shortly after 11pm to the M42 between junction 4 and junction 3a after a man was hit by a car. The man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed. His death is not being treated as suspicious and will be referred to the coroner.”

Background of the Particular Development

Pedestrian incidents on smart and multi-lane motorways across the United Kingdom remain a critical point of focus for National Highways and regional police forces. Under United Kingdom highway regulations (Rule 6 of the Highway Code), pedestrians are strictly prohibited from walking along or crossing motorways and slip roads except in acute emergency scenarios.

The M42 corridor running through Solihull and connecting to the M40 (Junction 3A) is one of the West Midlands’ busiest arterial routes, handling tens of thousands of commuter and freight vehicles daily. Over recent years, traffic safety bodies have highlighted concerns regarding pedestrian incursions onto high-speed motorways, which frequently stem from broken-down vehicles, emergency exits from shoulder lanes, or unauthorized access from nearby local secondary roads. Emergency deployments like MERIT (a 24/7 regional trauma asset consisting of pre-hospital consultant doctors) and MARS (volunteer pre-hospital emergency care specialists) are routinely called to high-velocity impacts of this nature to provide advanced field intervention.

Impact Assessment: How This Development Affects Road Users and Local Communities

The tragic outcome of this collision carries direct implications for several primary groups across the West Midlands area:

• Motorists and Local Commuters: Incidents of this severity require immediate lane and carriageway closures to allow collision investigation units and emergency responders to manage the scene safely. Drivers utilizing the M42 southbound between Solihull, Shirley, and the M40 interchange experience significant overnight diversions, secondary congestion, and extended travel delays during early morning traffic periods.
• Local Highway Authorities and Public Safety Bodies: Events involving pedestrians on smart motorways prompt routine reviews by National Highways and West Midlands Police regarding perimeter fencing, emergency refuge areas, overhead digital signage, and lighting infrastructure near motorway access points.
• The Deceased’s Family and First Responders: The incident represents a severe personal tragedy for the victim’s family, who receive support from specialized family liaison officers. Additionally, multi-agency emergency personnel—including paramedics, trauma doctors, and attending police units—face significant psychological demands when delivering intensive life support in high-speed traffic environments.