A ‘DANGEROUS’ country road must be improved residents have said after a 16-year-old was left fighting for his life following a crash.

The teenager was thrown from a car as it left Rivington Road, Belmont, and he became trapped under the vehicle when it rolled on him.

His 19-year-old friend, who was also in the Citroen C2, flagged down a passing vehicle and the occupants were able to help him lift the car off the teenager.

The 16-year-old was last night understood to be in a coma at Royal Preston Hospital.

Police, ambulance crews and firefighters were all called to the scene after the accident at 11.10pm on Thursday.

The car had come off the road just before the Blue Lagoon reservoir as it came towards the village.

A passing nurse also stopped and gave first aid at the scene before the pair, both from the Bolton area, were taken to hospital.

Police said they were yet to establish who was driving the car.

Sgt Jon Allwright said: “An investigation into the circumstances surrounding this collision is now underway.

“Although a number of people stopped at the scene, there is the possibility that there are other people who may have seen the Citroen being driven elsewhere during the evening.”

Shaun Holland, 28, landlord of the Black Dog pub in Church Street, which runs onto Rivington Road, said: “It is not the first time something like this has happened, it seems to happen every other week.

“The road is too narrow. You can only fit one car in and there are no streetlights.

“The council should widen the road to two lanes instead of one.”

Nicola Holland, 46, also from the pub, said: “I hope he’s all right. His mum pulled up outside pub and looked distraught.

“The road is very dangerous. In the summer, particularly, it’s a nightmare. They should widen the road.

“There are no street lights. They should put cat’s eyes in the middle of the road to make it safer.”

There have been 14 accidents causing injury on Rivington Road in the past five years.

North Turton and Tockholes councillor Jean Rigby, who represents Belmont at Blackburn with Darwen Council, yesterday contacted the council’s highways department on the back of the accident.

She said: “There are some bends on there so you do have to be careful.

“There are spots that are dangerous and I am terribly sorry this accident has happened.

“I really feel for his family who must be heartbroken and I pray to god he comes out of it okay.”

“I have been in touch with the highways department who will look into it.”

The dad of one of the 16-year-old’s friends said the boy was resuscitated at the scene and was in a coma.