Olivia Kolek
Olivia Kolek’s family said she was ‘our love, our heart, our life’ (Picture: West Midlands Police/PA)

A heartbroken family has paid tribute to a teenager who was killed in a New Year’s Eve crash, with a driver arrested for suspected drug driving.

Olivia Kolek’s loved ones described her as ‘the brightest star’ after she was struck by a grey Mercedes near Rowley Regis railway station.

They said: ‘Our love, our heart, our life. We will love you forever and longer.

‘She had a lot of plans for so many things to do. She was the brightest star in our life. We ask that our privacy is respected at this time.’

Paramedics had raced to the scene on Station Road at around 4.45pm on December 31.

But they were unable to save Olivia who was pronounced dead 45 minutes later.

A man, 39, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving while under the influence of drugs. 

He has been released under investigation while police await forensic test results.

Girl killed in New Year?s Eve collision named A teenage girl killed in a New Year?s Eve road collision has been named as Olivia Kolek as her family pay tribute to their ?brightest star?. Olivia was in Station Road, near Rowley Regis railway station, at around 4.45pm on 31 December when she was struck by a grey Mercedes. Paramedics attended the scene but tragically there was nothing could be done to save the 14-year-old and she was pronounced dead just before 5.30pm. The driver, a 39-year-old man, stopped and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving while under the influence of drugs. He has since been released under investigation while we await forensic test results and carry our further enquiries. Olivia?s family have asked us to release this tribute on their behalf: ?Our love, our heart, our life. We will love you forever and longer. ?She had a lot of plans for so many things to do. She was the brightest star in our life. ?We ask that our privacy is respected at this time.? We?re still appealing for any witnesses who?ve not yet spoken to us to come forward.
The teenager ‘had a lot of plans for so many things to do’ (Picture: West Midlands Police)
Flowers attached to traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing near Rowley Regis station in the West Midlands, after the death of a 14-year-old girl who was hit by a car on New Year's Eve. Picture date: Saturday January 1, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE RowleyRegis. Photo credit should read: Matthew Cooper/PA Wire
Flowers attached to traffic lights near the scene of the crash (Picture: PA)

An investigation has been launched and officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward. 

They are keen to speak to anyone who saw the grey Mercedes driving in the build-up to the crash, as well as anyone with dash-cam footage.

Sergeant Julie Lyman, of the region’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said on Saturday: ‘This is a truly awful way to start the new year and my heart goes out to the girl’s family and friends.’

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