Teenager airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following Shropshire crash

The 18-year-old and a woman in her 40s had to be freed from the wreckage by firefighters and the driver of the third car was also injured in the crash on the A53 at Stanton upon Hine Heath at 7.20pm last night.

The teenager suffered multiple leg fractures, a broken pelvis and internal injuries while the woman suffered a broken rib and knee pain.

All three motorists, who were the sole occupants of their cars, were taken to hospital.

The road was closed in both directions for several hours as emergency services dealt with the incident.

Two ambulance crews, who were already transporting patients to hospital, came across the crash and immediately called for back-up before helping the injured drivers.

Two further ambulances and a paramedic area support officer were sent to the scene, with the two additional ambulances taking over the care and transport of the two patients who were already en route to hospital.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Claire Brown said: "The drivers of all three cars had been injured in the collision. An 18-year-old man, the most seriously injured, and a woman in her 40s were both trapped in the wreckage.

"The 18-year-old was found to have sustained multiple lower leg fractures, a fractured pelvis and suspected internal injuries. He was given intravenous pain relief and fluids before ambulance crews worked with the fire service to carefully extricate him from the car.

"Crews fully immobilised the man with a neck collar, spinal board and pelvic splint. Due to the condition of the man and the close proximity of University Hospital North Staffordshire by air, the man was flown to the major trauma centre by police helicopter with a paramedic on board.

"The woman sustained a suspected fractured rib and knee pain. She too was extricated by the fire service and immobilised by ambulance crews before being taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

"The third driver, a man, suffered a laceration to his face and was treated on scene before being taken to the same hospital for further assessment and treatment."

Fire crews were sent from Hodnet, Wem and Wellington to the incident and were on scene for almost two hours, using Holmatro cutting equipment to get to the drivers trapped inside the vehicles.

Meanwhile, the drivers of two vehicles involved in a crash in the Shropshire countryside yesterday afternoon escaped injury.

A car and a van were involved in the accident on a B-road between Stapleton and Annscroft, near Shrewsbury, at 4.30pm yesterday.