A 67-YEAR-old woman was seriously injured when a van collided with the back of the car in which she was a passenger.

Jennie Holden, of Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with serious hip and pelvic injuries after the accident at 4.30 yesterday in Yew Tree Drive. A fire crew had to cut her free from the car.

Her condition was this morning described as 'satisfactory' by hospital staff. The van, which had crashed into the white Cavalier she was travelling in, skidded for 20 yards before toppling on to its side. Traffic chaos resulted as the east-bound carriageway of Yew Tree Drive was closed for four hours between the County Hotel and Whinney Lane.

Two other people in the car were also taken to hospital, the driver, Amos Holden, 72, also of Ramsgreave Drive, and passenger Florence Chadwick, 66, of Whalley New Road.

They were later released from Blackburn Infirmary after being treated for injuries.

The driver of the van, Suifai Lee, 24, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, escaped from the collision with cuts and bruises.

Police believe the Cavalier was having engine problems when the collision happened.

A parked Austin Maestro was also damaged in the accident, although nobody was in the car at the time.

People who live 200 yards away from the scene of the accident say they heard two loud bangs when the accident happened.

Those living nearer to the scene said they heard 10 seconds of sliding and grinding noises as the van skidded on its side on the road surface.

Yew Tree drive was re-opened to traffic at 8.30pm.

Sergeant John McGlaughlin, who led the investigation at the scene, said: "The traffic situation would have been far worse if the new stretch of the M65 had not been open."

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