Woman taken to hospital after Altham car accident (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Woman taken to hospital after Altham car accident

8:42pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Padiham

A WOMAN was tonight seriously ill in hospital after a car crash near Altham.

An ambulance was called to the scene in Burnley Road around 5.45pm.

Police said only one car, which had been travelling from Clayton-le-Moors towards Padiham,was involved in the accident.

The vehicle was left lying in a ditch facing the opposite way.

The woman driver, who was described as between 55 to 60-years-old, is believed to have been taken ill at the wheel, possibly from a heart attack.

Paramedics administered CPR, found a heartbeat and took her to Royal Blackburn Hospital, where she arrived at 6.46pm for further treatment.

Police closed the A678 in both directions between Moorfield Way and Bell Lane following the accident.

The road closure, which lasted almost two hours, caused traffic delays between the M65 at junction seven and Padiham before the car was towed away.