A SEVERELY-injured driver was air-lifted to hospital today after firefighters and paramedics fought for an hour to free him from the wreckage of his car.
The busy main A671 Whalley Road at the end of the Padiham by-pass was closed until well into the afternoon after the man's VW Passat collided head on with a 12-wheel Tarmac motorway service wagon shortly before 8.0am.
The blue Padiham-bound Passat is understood to have crossed the road into the path of the Volvo truck, causing it to swerve and demolish a 60ft length of 4ft-high stone walling before the vehicle fell 12ft into a field, landing on its side.
The driver was not seriously injured but was in shock, say police.
Three fire engines, two ambulances and several police cars were at the debris-strewn scene.
The road from the by-pass lights to Simonstone Lane was closed as emergency services fought to free the VW driver who is understood to have suffered severe internal injuries.
A service helicopter flew him to the Royal Preston Hospital shortly after 9.0am.
A police spokesman said it as the worst accident scene he had witnessed for many years.
Fire crews cut several sections of bodywork from the already near demolished car.
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