The family of James Singh Jagpal, the 39-year-old father who died when an SUV crashed into a Lidl supermarket in Wolverhampton, have paid tribute to his “kindness, generosity and wonderful sense of humour.”
Emergency services were called to the Lidl store on Finchfield Hill shortly before 6pm on Friday October 23. A man in his 30s was pronounced dead at the scene, and three other people were taken to hospital, according to West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS).
Tribute to a devoted father
In a statement issued four days after the crash, Mr Jagpal’s family described him as “a much-loved son and brother, devoted partner of over 20 years and loving father to two wonderful daughters.”
“Known for his kindness, generosity and wonderful sense of humour, James was loved by so many and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. James was the absolute centre of our world, and it is unimaginable how we will navigate life without him by our side,” the statement said.
The family also expressed gratitude to “the staff, customers and emergency services who immediately came to James’s aid at the scene.” They appealed for people to respect their privacy by not sharing distressing footage of the aftermath online, and said they continue to be supported by specially-trained officers.
Investigation and witness appeal
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 taken to hospital with injuries have since been discharged. A woman left in a serious condition was rushed to hospital along with a man who was inside the shop, WMAS said.
Police are continuing to establish the full circumstances of the collision and are appealing for anyone driving in the area around Finchfield Hill between 5pm and 6pm on Friday to come forward. They are particularly keen to see dashcam footage that might show the car involved.
“If you remember seeing a blue Renault Zoe immediately before the collision, please get in touch. If you have any information or images which could help our investigation, call 101 or use Live Chat on our website quoting log 4069 of 23 October. You can also contact the team directly by emailing SCIU@westmidlands.police.uk,” police said.
