Driver killed in two-car crash

A second woman suffered minor injuries in the smash between an Audi A4 and a Ford Mondeo at Wootton, Six Ashes, near Bridgnorth.

Seventeen firefighters battled for almost an hour to free two people from the wrecked Mondeo.

The accident happened on the approach to a bend on the A458 Stourbridge Road just before 2.45pm yesterday.

Three ambulances, a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle, a paramedic officer and two Midland Air Ambulances from Cosford and Strensham in Worcestershire were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Despite the treatment given by medics, the male driver was confirmed dead at the scene. A woman passenger in the same car was treated for serious multiple injuries. She was anaesthetised by an air ambulance doctor before being airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Her condition is described as critical.

"The female driver of the second vehicle involved was treated at the scene for minor injuries."

Firefighters split into separate crews as they worked to free the two trapped people and finally left at about 5pm.

The road remained closed late into the night for police inquiries, leading to heavy congestion.

Ashley Brown, Bridgnorth Fire Crew manager, said: "It took us 45 minutes to extricate the two casualties.

"The other lady in the Audi was treated at the scene."

Inspector James Ashton, of West Mercia Police,said the road was closed late into the night for collision investigation work to continue.

He appealed for any witnesses to call the non-emergency 101 number.

Charalampos Iordanidis, who has been manager of the Tuscano Italian restaurant in Six Ashes for six years, said there were two fatalities on the same road last year.

He said: "I believe the council is currently working on some sort of traffic system to slow people down along that road. It has been a long time coming because there have been so many accidents."

In a second incident, a child was airlifted to hospital after being hit by a car in a village near Oswestry.

It happened at 3.38pm in Chapel Lane, Trefonen, yesterday. The child suffered a cut to the head and was taken to the Birmingham Children's Hospital as a precaution after being treated by paramedics at the scene.

And drivers were caught up in long delays after a sports car and a motor home were involved in a crash on the A49 at Preston Brockhurst, near Wem.

Nobody was injured in the crash, which happened just before 2.30pm yesterday, but the road was blocked by the Shawbury Road junction because of a spillage of diesel.