A man was arrested in hospital after a horror crash last night which forced police to close a main road for four hours.

Police said a Subaru Impreza smashed head-on into an Audi A4, in Colne Road, Brierfield, shortly before 8pm.

It is understood that the Subaru had moved into the oncoming lane as the driver attempted to overtake the vehicle in front, close to St Luke’s Church.

Officers said the woman who was driving the Audi suffered broken legs and a dislocated shoulder in the crash and was taken by ambulance to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

But the driver of the Subaru abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene before police officers, firefighters or paramedics arrived, they said.

He was later located at Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, where he was being treated for minor facial injuries.

A black Citroen C3, which had been travelling in front of the Subaru, was also damaged in the three-car collision.

After the crash, scores of residents and traders in the area gathered to look at the trio of wrecked vehicles Firefighters attended the scene and made the three vehicles involved safe by disconnecting the batteries.

A 21-year-old man, from Brierfield, is today being questioned by officers after being arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident.

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