A MAN remained critically injured in hospital today after being cut free from a car involved in a late-night two vehicle collision.
Police were called at 11.45pm on Friday night to the scene of the accident between a blue Ford Fiesta and a Red Nissan Juke on Higher Audley Street, Blackburn.
Two fire crews were called as two passengers were trapped in the smaller vehicle following the accident near the town centre.
The had to cut the roof of the Fiesta to release the rear seat passenger, a 24-year-old man from Blackburn, who was rushed to the Royal Preston Hospital with multiple injuries described as 'critical' and 'potentially life threatening'.
Two passengers in the Ford, a 20-year-old man from Preston and a 26-year-old man from Blackburn, also suffered serious injuries and were also taken to the same hospital for treatment.
Two other people from the Fiesta left the scene and police have appealed for them to come forward.
Nearby residents spoke of being alerted by a loud bang and flashing blue lights and emergency vehicle sirens after the collision between Withers Street and Stirling Drive.
The road was closed for six hours while an investigation took place.
A police appeal for witnesses revealed the Ford Fiesta was travelling along Higher Audley Street in the direction of Audley Range when it overtook a vehicle. 
It then lost control and collided with a Nissan Juke which was travelling in the opposite direction.
Caroline Hartley, 52, from nearby Cambridge Drive said: "It was a real mess. 
"The man looked really badly injured and was on stretcher.
"We were just going to bed and heard woken by a loud bang and sirens and flashing lights.
"There were two damaged cars and a lot of police, firemen and ambulance people.
"We could see it from our back bedroom window.
"It was horrible. One of those in the blue car had to be cut free and looked really badly hurt.
"There was someone on the side of the street looking really bemused."
Crew manager Lee Pickup from Blackburn fire station said: "Two crews attended a two car collision on Higher Audley Street in Blackburn at 12.05am.
"Two passengers were trapped and one had to be released by cutting the roof off the Ford Fiesta.
"He was seriously hurt with injuries that looked potentially life-threatening."
Inspector Mick Johnson of Blackburn police said: "Three men were trapped in a blue Ford Fiesta after a collision just before midnight with a red Nissan Juke.
"One was already out of the car but two had to be released by firefighters.
"The rear seat seat passenger had to be cut free and is now in the Royal Preston Hospital with critical injuries.
"No-one appears to have been injured in the Nissan Juke.
Another resident of Cambridge Street said: "I was woken up a by a really loud bang.
"There were lots of lights and sirens."
A nearby resident said: "There were blue flashing lights and sirens everywhere and lorries being diverted by police."
PS Dave Hurst from the Road Policing Unit said: "This collision has left one man in a critical condition and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or either vehicle prior to the collision to contact us if they have not already done so.
"I would also appeal to the two individuals who are believed to have been in the Ford Fiesta and left the scene to come forward."
Anyone with information about the collision can contact police on 101 quoting log 1689 of July 21.