A 21-YEAR-OLD man from Blackburn was seriously injured after his car clipped a kerb, flipped on its roof and landed in a field.

The crash happened near to the Royal Oak pub in Blackburn Old Road, Riley Green, and the road was closed for four hours.

The 21-year-old, who was driving a Renault Clio when it crashed, suffered head injuries, broken wrists and pelvis as well as an injury to his lower leg, whilst a 20-year-old male passenger from Bamber Bridge is said to have a broken nose and collar bone.

A second passenger is believed to have run from the scene before the emergency services arrived.

A police spokesman said the driver lost control of the car moments before the crash.

Both injured men were last night being treated at Royal Preston Hospital.

A police spokesman said their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Sgt Tracey Ward said: “This collision has left two young men with serious injuries and I would appeal to anyone who saw anything or knows what happened to get in touch with us.”

Police said the crash happened shortly before 11.30pm on Sunday when the Renault Clio, which was travelling towards Blackburn on the A6061 Riley Switch Green Road, lost control near to the pub.

The car clipped the kerb and hit wooden bollards and a lamppost before flipping over and crashing through a hedge, coming to rest on its roof in a field, officers said.

The road was closed for accident investigation work to be carried out and for the men to be treated by the emergency services.

Mike Rawlinson, 33, owner of the Royal Oak, said: “I got a call from my mother who lives on site to say there had been a crash.

“I came and saw it this morning. The police still had it cordoned off until 5am.

“We’ve got cameras pointing to the car park but but you don’t really see anything.

“We’ve had a couple of incidents at the junction but we’ve not had a particular problem with speed on this road. This is the first serious crash in the three and a half years I have owned the pub.

“I just hope they make a full recovery. No-one deserves that. We were told the driver was touch and go so I am glad to hear his injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening.”

The pub was open for business as usual yesterday, but there were plastic barriers in the carpark at the point where the wooden bollards had been.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting log number 1819 of May 29th.