A TEENAGE driver was fighting for his life after his car hit a lamppost.

The 17-year-old boy was behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta when he lost control and hit the post in Longsight Road, Langho.

Police said he suffered a serious head injury and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital around 10.15pm on Sunday.

Last night officers described his condition as ‘critical’.

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The road was closed for almost four hours for a police investigation.

Longsight Road is of the A59, which runs from Samlesbury through Mellor Brook, Salesbury, Langho, Billington, Whalley, Clitheroe, Chatburn, Gisburn through to York and has been the focus of numerous road safety campaigns.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans branded the A59 ‘a notorious accident blackspot'. He said: “Firstly all our thoughts are with the young man and his family, we pray for a swift recovery.

“The only slim silver lining we can look for in this bleak cloud is that we should now do something about the road.

“I do hope the police will look carefully at the A59 in general as well as the scene of this accident.

“There’s simply just been too many accidents over the years, something needs to be done.

“I hope the highways authority can come up with a way of making this road safer.”

Yesterday, motorists were urged to drive ‘with care’ after heavy rain caused the junction with Longsight Road and Chapel Lane to flood.

In a separate incident in July a woman suffered head injuries after a car crash on the A59 near Clayton-le-Dale.

Cllr Ged Mirfin, who represents Billington and Old Langho on Ribble Valley Council, said: “There are quite a few accident blackspots on the A59 and we have seen lots of incidents.

“It’s a fast road and particularly at night and visibility is poor.

“It’s always horrifying to hear of such incidents like this."

Officers are now appealing for witnesses.

Sgt Dave Hurst said: “The driver has been left in a critical condition in hospital and we want to establish exactly what happened."

Contact police on 101 quoting log reference 1278 of September 10