Man killed and three others serious after Belthorn crash

All four are believed to have been in the same blue classic Mini Cooper when it flipped onto its roof after colliding with a silver Mercedes C200 heading in the opposite direction.

A 17-year-old girl was taken to Royal Preston Hospital by air ambulance, while a 15-year-old girl was flown to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. A 26-year-old man was taken by ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital.

All three suffered ‘major trauma’ and were in a serious condition yesterday, an ambulance spokeswoman said.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, the driver, from Ashton-under-Lyne, died at the scene.

The crash happened close to the remote Grey Mare Inn, in Grane Road, Haslingden, at its junction with Jackson Heights Road.

Police officers closed the road for seven hours after the accident at 8.30am yesterday while wreckage from the cars was examined.

The ambulance spokeswoman said: “We dealt with four casualties. One of them died at the scene. The three others suffered major trauma.”

She added that it was believed one of the victims was thrown from the car.

The driver and passenger of the Mercedes, a couple in their 50s from Leyland, were taken to hospital with injuries which were not thought to be life threatening.

Rob Birtwistle, watch manager at Blackburn fire station, said two crews from Blackburn and one from Rawtenstall were sent to the scene.

He said: “We assisted with first aid, delivering oxygen, and we cut away some fencing to make access easier for two air ambulances landing nearby.“We also made the scene safe.”

Motorists caught up in the accident’s aftermath took to social networking site Twitter to warn other road users to ‘avoid’ the area.

Traffic between the M65 and Haslingden was the worst affected, and buses on the 244 services were diverted through Blackburn and along Haslingden Old Road.

Last year, former Blackburn Imam and tour operator Hafiz Allahrakhu Satia died when the car he was driving ploughed into a house on the same road.

Months earlier, Mohammed Nasser Nassib, 33, was killed when his car went through three gardens and into a house.

His 18-year-old front seat passenger Taiyeeb Shah spent six days in hospital with a punctured lung after the crash.

Several other serious accidents have also occurred on the same stretch of road, leading to numerous calls for improved safety measures.

Eight years ago, a 7.5-tonne weight limit was introduced for safety reasons, but residents and councillors said last year more than 100 lorries a day were breaking the law by using it.

County councillor for Rossendale West, David Stansfield, said he was ‘deeply sorry’ to hear about yesterday’s smash and said he would ‘fight to the end’ to prevent further tragedies.

Coun Stansfield said: “These roads are the most dangerous you can think of, and my sympathies go out to the family of the man who has been killed, and the families of the youngsters involved.

“I know the cause is not yet known, but whatever the cause, it should never have happened.

“There’s not enough police. You can put all these safety measures in place, but if the police are not there, the only answer is the average speed camera.

“I know it’s costly, but it would save lives.”

Haslingden MP Graham Jones added: “We need to let the emergency services investigate the cause of the crash before we talk about the reasons why it may have occurred.

“We need to think about the families, and I hope the emergency services are managing to cope. I also hope those that are injured pull through.”

Sgt Finn Quainton said the Mini was travelling towards Blackburn when it lost control and collided with the Mercedes.

He said it was believed the three other people in the mini were also from Ashton-under-Lyne.

He added: “This is a tragic incident in which a young man has lost his life and others have been seriously injured.

“I would appeal for anyone with information, including anyone who has seen the Mini in the moments before this collision, to contact the police on 101.”