Army girl dies in crash

A 17-year-old Royal Artillery gunner has died in a car crash on the north Shropshire border.

Lucinda Owen was found dead in her car in a field off Tilston Road, Malpas, near Whitchurch, yesterday morning. Police were alerted that the car had left the road at 7.25am, and when they arrived, officers discovered a blue Vauxhall Corsa in a field close to a nearby farm.

It is not clear how the vehicle ended up in the field, but it is known to have left the road.

The crash happened just hours before a four-vehicle smash on the A49 in south Shropshire, in which an elderly man died.

The collision in Malpas, in which Miss Owen sustained fatal injuries, is thought to have happened some hours before police were alerted.

The teenager, who comes from the Malpas area, had completed 14 weeks of phase one training at the Army Training Regiment in Pirbright, Surrey, and had her passing out parade on Friday.

She was due to start her phase two Army training at the Royal School of Artillery at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

Thoughts

An Army spokesman said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Gunner Owen at this very difficult time."

The crash in south Shropshire happened at the junction of the A49 with the A4113 in Bromfield, near Ludlow, at about 9.25am yesterday and involved two lorries and two cars.

The driver of a dark-coloured Volkswagen Polo, believed to be in his 80s, was trapped and was cut out of the car by fire crews. He was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham but died from his multiple injuries.

Witnesses to both collisions are asked to contact police as a matter of urgency.

Anyone who witnessed the collision in Malpas, or events leading up to it is asked to contact Cheshire police on 01244 613163. Witnesses to the collision near Ludlow should contact Ludlow police on 08457 444888.

Details of both incidents can also be passed on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Motorists in Shrewsbury also faced delays last night after a two-vehicle collision on Belle Vue Road at 9.30pm where a white Honda Integra and a blue Vauxhall Astra had collided, and in Oswestry the A483 was closed between Morton and Llynclys after a collision at Sweeney at about 9pm.

By Abigail Bates