A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital while another has been left with serious injuries following a horror smash in Clayton-le-Moors.

The men, both 49-years-old, were cut free from the wreckage of their Fiat Stilo car after it collided with a small roundabout outside All Saints Church next to Mercer Park on Grange Street at around 8.20pm on Saturday.

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Police said the blue car was travelling along a left hand bend from Grange Street onto Church Street when it collided with a lamppost and railings forming a small roundabout.

The driver and passenger, both from Clayton-le-Moors, were given first aid at the scene including CPR before being transported to hospital.

Last night officers said the driver remained in a critical condition in Royal Blackburn Hospital. He was being treated for a suspected heart attack, a spokesman from the North West Ambulance Service said.

The passenger was said to be in a serious condition at Royal Preston Hospital being treated for a number of fractures included a fractured pelvis.

Officers closed the road for four hours as firefighters fought to free the pair from the wreckage and investigators gathered clues.

Father-of-one, Ben Halliday, 26, of Church Street, said: “I saw the cars and police and there were two fire engines.

“I was looking out of my bedroom window and someone said that someone had thrown a bomb.”

Neighbour and taxi driver David Bates, said: “The car was wedged into the central reservation.

“The fire crew were helping with equipment and ambulance were giving chest compressions to someone on the floor.

“There were fire engines, ambulances and a lot of police. They were there for a good while, three or four hours.”

Neighbour Peter McDonald said: “It is usually a very quiet road. I’m surprised it’s happened especially there next to the park.”

Cllr Tim O’Kane, who represents Clayton-le-Moors, said the residential road was not an area for concern.

He said: “Your thoughts have got to be with the families of these two men at this time.

“I know that they were both from Clayton and one of them is in a very bad way.

“It’s not an accident blackspot, by any means, but this wouldn’t have been an issue, in these circumstances anyway.”

Cllr Melissa Fisher, fellow ward councillor, said: “I actually drove past the church yesterday and saw the damage to the roundabout and it is quite extensive.

“My thoughts are with the family and hope everybody makes a speedy recovery.

“As a Clayton-le-Moors councillor you are always shocked to hear one of your constituents has suffered such a serious injury.”

Officers are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the accident to contact them.

Sgt John Jennings-Wharton, of the East Road Policing Unit, said: “We have already traced some witnesses but we would be keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the car travelling in the Grange Street area prior to the incident or who indeed witnessed the collision itself.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log 1196 of 20th February.