One killed and four injured as crash closes route for six hours

A 75-year-old woman who was a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf was declared dead at the scene following the crash with a Toyota Verso and another vehicle at the Montford Bridge junction, near Shrewsbury.

The driver, a man in his 70s, was trapped for about 40 minutes following the crash shortly after 5pm on Saturday and had to be cut free by firefighters. He had chest injury and a number of fractures and was flown to University Hospital of North Staffordshire for treatment.

A nine-year-old girl suffered an abdominal injury and was flown to the same hospital.

A pregnant woman in the Toyota was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to be treated for unspecified injuries, while a six-year-old boy in the same car suffered facial injuries and was treated at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.

The road was closed until 11.30pm while emergency services and accident investigators worked at the scene and diversions were in place.

Police have called for anyone who witnessed the crash to get in touch with information.

Inspector Andy Smith of West Mercia Police said three vehicles were involved, the principal ones were a Toyota Verso and a Volkswagen Golf.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old motorcyclist died after being involved in a collision with a car on the Shropshire border. The rider of a Honda bike was involved in a crash with a Skoda Fabia on the A456 at the junction with Boraston Drive in Burford, near Tenbury Wells, just after 10pm on Friday. He was confirmed dead at hospital in Birmingham. Floral tributes were left at the scene of the accident yesterday.

An elderly woman was knocked over and trapped underneath a car outside Shrewsbury Cathedral at about 10.30am on her way to an Easter Sunday mass. The woman, who is in her 80s, suffered multiple injuries including a suspected broken leg and fractured pelvis after being hit by the car on Town Walls.

About 20 firefighters attended the scene and used a crane to lift the vehicle and free the woman, who was airlifted to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The road was closed for more than two hours.

Two cars overturned on county roads as the icy conditions continued to cause problems.

The crashes happened on the A49 close to Lee Brockhurst, near Wem, shortly after 9pm on Saturday and on the B4555 in Highley, near Bridgnorth shortly before 4am on Sunday. The drivers escaped without serious injury.