Six men have been arrested after a mother-of-three was killed when a van ran her over while she was playing golf with her husband.
Suzanne Cherry, 62, was on the first tee of a golf course with her husband Clinton when a van, which had veered off the road and onto the golf course while being chased by police, struck her.
She sustained severe injuries during the incident at Aston Wood Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield on April 11 and was flown to the hospital. Unfortunately, she passed away on Tuesday.
Two police cars had started pursuing a grey Nissan van in Kingstanding, Birmingham, after reports of suspicious activity. This information was provided by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
They stopped following the van when it came off the road and up an embankment at Aston Wood Golf Club, where it hit Mrs Cherry.
The driver and two passengers ran from the scene, but were arrested days later.
In an update issued today, the force said one of the men, a 41-year-old from Worcester, arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been placed on conditional police bail while the investigation continues.
Officers from Staffordshire have since been granted extra time 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.
Suzanne Cherry was playing golf with her husband Clinton when she was hit by a van
Officers in two patrol cars had begun following a grey Nissan van in Kingstanding, Birmingham, last Friday after receiving reports of suspicious activity, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct
CCTV footage captured the moment the van veered onto Aston Wood Golf Course in Birmingham
Two further men, aged 36 and aged 26 respectively, both of Coseley, were arrested on Friday by officers in South Wales, each on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Police arrested another man, aged 34, of Wednesbury, on suspicion of manslaughter. He is currently in custody.
Officers are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward.
Mrs Cherry, a company director, lived in nearby Aldridge with her husband, who was too upset to comment on Friday.
A neighbour said: ‘She was a much-loved friend and neighbour. What happened was just appalling.
‘She was playing golf with her husband. He saw it all happen and is a broken man.’
Ms Cherry, a company director, lived in nearby Aldridge with her husband, who was too upset to comment on Friday
The mother-of-three suffered serious injuries and died on Tuesday
Mrs Cherry was described as a ‘much-loved’ neighbour
The manner of the mother’s death was described as ‘incomprehensible’ by her distraught neighbours
Another neighbour from the quiet cul-de-sac where the Cherry family lived said: ‘Going to play the game you love on a beautiful day and then that happens. It is beyond comprehension.
‘Why would anyone be driving a van up that bank and onto a golf course. It’s insanity.’
In a tribute online, directors, members of staff and our members of nearby Calderfields Golf and Country Club offered their condolences to her family and friends.
They said: ‘Our thoughts also go out to our neighbours, their staff and friends at Aston Wood, this was a tragic and very sad occurrence which should not happen anywhere, let alone on the tranquil environment of a golf course.’
