THE inquest into the death of a man who was killed in a horrific accident on a Bromsgrove roundabout was opened yesterday (Tuesday).

County coroner Victor Round opened the inquest into the death of Kevin Harwood but adjourned it, pending further police inquiries.

The 50-year-old, from Kinver near Stourbridge, was killed when an articulated lorry toppled over onto his car on the Slideslow island last Tuesday night, at around 8.45pm.

The lorry, which was carrying 13 rolls of newsprint weighing about two tonnes each, tipped over as it went around the island, landing on the car.

The Rover 214 was waiting to pull out from Regents Park Road and was completely crushed by the combined weight of the lorry and the paper rolls. Bromsgrove firefighters worked for three and a-half-hours to free the driver of the car and his female passenger, although Mr Harwood was pronounced dead at the scene.

Specialists from Bromsgrove Crane Hire were brought in to help remove the roof off the car.

The woman, who is believed to be a nurse at Blakenhurst Prison, was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital before being discharged on Monday. Sub-officer Ken Oliver said the car was crushed to the height of its wheels and the women's rescue was remarkable.

The A38, A448, Stratford Road and Regents Park were closed from 8.45pm until 3.40am the following morning while the scene of the accident was cleared.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact PC Mark Rowley at the road policing unit on 08457 444 888.