A father killed when a car ploughed into a Lidl store in Wolverhampton has been named as James Singh Jagpal, 39. The crash happened at the supermarket in Finchfield Hill shortly before 6pm on Friday, and Mr Jagpal was declared dead at the scene.
Family tribute to 'much-loved' dad
Mr Jagpal's family paid tribute to him, describing him as a “much-loved son and brother, devoted partner of over 20 years and loving father to two wonderful daughters.” They praised his “kindness, generosity and wonderful sense of humour” and said he “was loved by so many and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”
The statement added: “James was the absolute centre of our world, and it is unimaginable how we will navigate life without him by our side. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff, customers and emergency services who immediately came to James’s aid at the scene.”
Emergency response and injuries
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) confirmed that three other people required hospital treatment after the incident. The driver of the car, a woman in her 70s, was released from hospital and will be spoken to in due course. Two other women were taken to hospital with injuries and have since been discharged.
Pictures of the incident show the car inside the store, having crashed through the building and into the till area, with food items strewn across several aisles. A mangled shopping trolley and shattered glass were visible outside the damaged shopfront, which was cordoned off by police at the time. Footage circulating online shows shoppers panicking as they ask if any children have been hurt.
Police appeal for witnesses
West Midlands Police are continuing to investigate the full circumstances of the collision. Officers want to speak to anyone who was driving in the area around Finchfield Hill between 5pm and 6pm on Friday, and would especially like to see any dashcam footage which might show the car involved — a blue Renault Zoe — immediately before the collision.
The family have asked the public to respect their privacy and refrain from sharing or circulating the distressing footage of the aftermath online. They continue to be supported by specially-trained officers. Anyone with information or images which could help the investigation is asked to call 101 or use Live Chat on the force's website, quoting log 4069 of October 23, or email SCIU@westmidlands.police.uk.
