A 38-YEAR-OLD man injured in a car crash was today said to be improving in hospital.

Police said the man, who has not been named but comes from Haslingden, suffered serious head injuries when his van was in collison with a Renault V6 in Bradshaw Road, Bolton, at 7.40am on Friday.

He was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot. He recovered consciousness and medical staff were preparing to move him to an ordinary ward yesterday.

A 20-year-old passenger in the Renault had to be cut free by firefighters but died later in the Royal Bolton Hospital. The car was being taken on a test run by a 22-year-old driver from Leigh.

Police said it mounted the kerb, crossed over to the other side of the road and hit the Citroen van, which was catapulted off the road and landed 15 feet down an embankment.

Officers have appealed for information on the crash.

The silver Renault was very distinctive, with the V6 engine situated where the rear passenger seats would normally be, and the car had 12in cooling vents measuring extending 5in from the front doors.

It travelled from Leigh to Bolton.

PS Barry Fairclough, of Bolton Traffic Unit, said: "The van driver is still critical but he is conscious, talking and moving. The progress over the last 24 hours has been encouraging."