A DRIVER suffered serious head injuries when his car left the motorway, plunged down and embankment, crashed through a fence and possibly somersaulted before ending up on its wheels in a field.

Afiz Ali, 33, of Manchester Road, Haslingden, is in the Royal Preston Hospital where his condition today is described as critical but stable. Passenger Shane Barker, 17, of Claremont Street, Brierfield, escaped with cuts and bruises. He was treated at Burnley General Hospital then allowed home.

A police spokesman described him as a lucky young man to have escaped more serious injury.

He for reasons unknown to the left and left, rolled down the embankment and went through a fence into the field. The accident happened between junctions 11 and 12 of the M65, near Barden Lane, Burnley, at 6.50pm yesterday.