Tributes have been paid to a mum and daughter who were killed in a horror hit-and-run crash on Boxing Day. <br /><br />Linda Philips, 72, and Amanda Riley, 49, died after their MG ZS was involved in a smash with a BMW 4 Series and a quad bike.<br /><br />Emergency services rushed to the scene in Shard End, Birmingham, shortly after 8pm last Tuesday (26/12) but the pair were pronounced dead at the scene.<br /><br />Four other people, including a baby, were rushed to hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries. <br /><br />Police arrested two men in connection with the collision, which happened at the junction of Kitt’s Green Road and Mackadown Lane.<br /> <br />One has been de-arrested and will be spoken to by officers once he has recovered from his injuries. The other has since been released with no further action.<br /><br />Today (Thurs) the heartbroken family of Linda and Amanda released an emotional tribute via West Midlands Police.<br /><br />They said: "Linda and Amanda, mother and daughter were cruelly taken from us on Boxing Day, 26 December 2023.<br /><br />"Linda was a beautiful and dearly loved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, auntie, and so much more. <br /><br />"Her husband, children, grandchildren, and family loved Linda very much, and Linda absolutely adored her family.<br /><br />"Amanda was a beautiful and much-loved mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and auntie.<br /><br />"Amanda's parents, daughters, and grandchildren loved her so much, and Amanda was the apple of her grandchildren's eye.<br /><br />"The family are devastated, and respectfully ask for privacy at this extremely difficult time.<br /><br />"We ask, if anyone has any information, however small, please come forward, so that the families can get justice for Linda and Amanda."<br /><br />Shocking footage showing the moment one car exploded in a fireball emerged in the aftermath of the crash.<br /><br />One eyewitness, who has lived in the area for ten years, said previously he believed the BMW had been racing the quad bike shortly before the collision.<br /><br />He said: “This road is a nightmare. It’s lawless with idiots using the road as a race track.<br /><br />“The junction where it happened is four lanes with traffic lights and the smash happened just after the lights.<br /><br />“From my background I know how fast a car must be going to crash in flames and the BMW was well alight.<br /><br />“From what I have heard is the BMW and the quad bike were racing and as the BMW sped through the lights, it hit the other car.<br /><br />“From the ages of the people in the other car it would appear it’s a family. Probably visiting relatives for Christmas.<br /><br />“It’s a devastating tragedy but it’s something I’ve feared for ages. Criminals and boy racers have no fear of the police around here.<br /><br />“Over the last three years, I’ve noticed loads more quad bikes tearing around the roads. <br /><br />“I’m guessing they are easier to use to escape from the police and they are not as easy to trace.”<br /><br />Police revealed previously the quad bike rider left the scene and was being hunted by officers.<br /><br />The BMW driver also fled the scene but a man was arrested a short time later on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.<br /><br />Another man was also arrested for assisting an offender.<br /><br />Detective Sergeant Julie Lyman, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said previously: “Our thoughts remain with the families who have been affected by this awful collision. <br /><br />“It remains vital that we fully establish exactly what happened with all the vehicles involved."<br /><br />Anyone with dashcam, or with any information about what happened, is asked to contact police by calling 101 or via Live Chat online quoting 2873 26/12/23. <br /><br />You can also email investigators direct at sciu@westmidlands.police.uk.
