Seriously injured casualties cut free after A5 crash near Oswestry

Air ambulance paramedics flew to the scene of the crash at Weirbrook, West Felton, close to the Shottaton crossroads, at around 2.10pm on Friday.

The road was closed while emergency services dealt with the collision, which involved a car and a van.

A man and a woman travelling in the car both sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries, and had to be cut free. A man in the van managed to free himself and sustained "potentially serious" injuries.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said and air ambulance from Cosford was sent as well as a Welsh Air Ambulance. All three patients were taken via road ambulance to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

A spokesman said: “On arrival crews discovered a total of three patients. A woman, who was the passenger in the van, had to be cut free by colleagues from the fire service. She was treated by ambulance crews for serious injuries, not believed to be life-threatening.

“The driver of the van, a man, managed to get himself out of the vehicle and was treated for potentially serious injuries.

“A second man, who was the driver of the car, also had to be cut free by the fire service. He was also treated for serious injuries, not believed to be life-threatening.

“All three patients were then taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by land ambulance for further treatment.”

A Shropshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "At 2.14pm we received a call reporting that a road traffic collision had taken place in Oswestry.

"Three fire appliances including the rescue tender were mobilised from Baschurch, Oswestry and Wellington. An operations officer was in attendance.

"Also at the scene of the incident were the air ambulance, the land ambulance service and the police.

"Crews used Holmatro cutting equipment to release casualties. Casualties in care care of ambulance crews."

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "Road closure - A5 at Shotatton crossroads towards Oswestry following an RTC. Please avoid the area and take an alternative route!"