A husband has told how he looked on in ‘helpless horror’ when his wife Suzanne Cherry was ‘snatched away’ in a crash on a golf course in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
A husband watched on in ‘helpless horror’ after his ‘beautiful’ wife died on a golf course after being struck by a van driver allegedly trying to escape police. Suzanne Cherry, from Aldridge in the West Midlands, was named this week as the woman who died in hospital on Tuesday night after tragically being caught up in a police chase in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham on April 11.
Police said that a grey Nissan van was being pursued by police through Aston Wood Golf Club following reports of suspicious activity when it hit the 62-year-old woman. Six men have been arrested in connection with the incident. Today, Suzanne’s husband paid a heartbreaking tribute to his “beautiful wife” as police released a family photo.
Her husband, Clinton, said: “On Friday 11 April, while enjoying what should have been the safest of one of Suzanne’s many activities, I watched in helpless horror as the life of my beautiful wife and our future together was snatched away in an instant. Suzanne had an amazing and infectious zest for life, which touched everyone who was fortunate enough to know her.
“She was unselfish, always ready to encourage with love and support those around her to achieve more than they themselves thought possible. Suzanne leaves a legacy and an unfillable void in the lives of her mother Maureen, her three adult children, two step-children and countless others from her work, her sporting activities and social circle.
“Sue was loved, and will be painfully missed by her entire family and friends, we ask that our privacy at this difficult time be respected.”
Three different police forces have made six arrests in connection with the incident, including one man on suspicion of murder.
Officers from West Midlands Police arrested three men on Wednesday.
A 41-year-old from Worcester who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has since been placed on conditional police bail.
Staffordshire Police were also granted extra time by the courts this weekend to question two other men, a 51-year-old man from Bloxwich, arrested on suspicion of murder, and a 22-year-old man from Dudley, arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and assisting an offender.
Two more men, aged 36 and 26, both from Coseley, were arrested on Friday by officers in South Wales on suspicion of assisting an offender.
A man aged 34, from Wednesbury was also arrested on Friday on suspicion of manslaughter.
An investigation has been launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the events that led up to the collision.
Officers from West Midlands Police had been pursuing the car at the time of the incident.
A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Police said: “The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing to investigate the circumstances prior to the collision, when West Midlands Police officers were responding to the vehicle being involved in reports of suspicious activity.
“We are continuing to appeal for information and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the area of Blake Street and Birmingham Road between Sutton Coldfield and Shenstone in the morning of Friday (11 April).
“We’ve created an https://mipp.police.uk/operation/STAFFS25M06-PO1 where people can leave information they may have.”