Woman airlifted to hospital after A49 smash

A woman was airlifted to hospital today after a two-car smash on the A49 in Shropshire which caused traffic misery for thousands of motorists.

The crash closed the road between Dorrington and Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury for much of the day, with queues building up in both directions and traffic forced to take back roads to get past the scene.

The accident involved an Audi and Land Rover Defender towing a trailer and happened near Long Gardens, Dorrington, at around 9.30am.

Queues of up to 30 minutes were reported between Dobbies Roundabout in Bayston Hill and the Station Road junction in Dorrington as motorists were diverted via back lanes by police.

The female driver of the Audi, believed to be in her mid 30s, had to be cut free by fire crews and was airlifted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire with serious leg injuries.

The male driver of the Land Rover, in his late 20s,was treated for head and shoulder injuries at the scene and taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

A spokesman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "The Land Rover was towing a trailer with a car on at the time of the crash and that had turned onto its side. The driver was out of the vehicle when crews arrived.

"The road was closed due to the crash and the helicopter landed in an adjacent field.

"The woman was trapped in the car for around 90 minutes."

Richard Ewels, from the West Mercia Police, said: "The road was completely blocked. There was considerable congestion as traffic was diverted."

Two fire appliances from Shrewsbury, a rescue tender from Wellington and a support officer from Shrewsbury helped free the trapped women from her car.