Driver fighting for life after smash
An elderly man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a smash during rush hour in Wolverhampton that caused traffic chaos.
The man, aged 84, had to be cut from his black Vauxhall Meriva after it was in collision with a blue BMW on the A449 Stafford Road, close to its junction with Oxley Moor Road. He complained of chest pains and was today described as being in a serious but stable condition at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.
The head-on crash yesterday at 4.13pm led to queuing traffic from the city centre as police closed the busy gateway out of Wolverhampton from the Goodyear Island. Cars were being sent back into the city centre from the island to find alternative routes home. The road remained closed at 8pm.
Two men from the other cars received minor injuries but were not taken to hospital. The driver of the BMW was a 53-year-old man from Telford. He and his 19-year-old passenger both suffered suffered whiplash injuries and shock.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said: "Two cars had significant front end damage; one of them also had much less serious rear end damage with a third car having minor front end damage. The elderly man in the middle car of the three was trapped. Ambulance staff worked with fire crews to remove the man whilst he was being treated. He had potentially serious injuries.
"The roof had to be removed so that he could be immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board.
"Two men, one from each of the other cars, received very minor injuries and did not need hospital treatment."
West Midlands Police spokeswoman Zoe Lee added: "The road was blocked at the Goodyear Island."
Any witnesses are urged to call police at Bilston Street station on 08451135000.
