A 41-year-old man whose car left the A449 and crashed into a tree has died.

Tributes and flowers from family and friends lie at the base of the tree at Hawford.

One addressed to Michael' included: "Words cannot express how much you mean to me. I love you dearly and you will always be in my heart... Our Kylie song will always play a part in my life. Your loving Ian."

Police have declined to release the identity of the man who had been fighting for his life in hospital with serious injuries since Friday.

A spokesman confirmed the man had died but did not know when. He is the 13th person to have died on the notorious stretch of road in the last nine years.

The coroner's office has been informed and an inquest is due to be opened on Tuesday, May 1.

Jason Bills, of Bank Cottage, Hawford, near the Ombersley Road roundabout, said he "felt sorry" for the man's family and friends as he watched them lay tributes around the tree outside his house on Tuesday.

Mr Bills said he wants to see metal barriers put up along the side of the road to prevent people from crashing into trees.

"If they had them, like the ones they have on the motorway, a lot of people would still be alive today," he said. "Somebody has got to accept responsibility and get the road right."

In the latest incident, firefighters had to cut the driver out of the red Alfa Romeo he was driving when it left the Worcester to Kidderminster road and hit a tree at about 11pm. He was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital with serious chest, head and leg injuries.

Mr Bills said all the recent tragedies have had a major impact on his family, especially his children Dan, aged 10, and Grace, four.

"They shouldn't be knowing all of this sort of stuff," he said. "I've been waking up in the night the past couple of weeks. I'm having nightmares."

We reported yesterday how a 2,000-signature petition - which Mr Bills help set up - to reduce the A449's speed limit from 70mph to 50mph has now been posted on the Prime Minister's website.