A man fled the scene of a horrific crash in South Staffordshire in which a passenger died and two other people were injured. One vehicle is thought to have hit a garden wall.

Tragedy struck when a green 4×4 Isuzu and a green Honda Civic ploughed into each other on a bend in a country lane in Bobbington, near Wombourne.

A young man who was the back seat passenger of the Civic was killed instantly.

The injured were taken to Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley.

The smash at 4.30pm yesterday closed Gospel End Road for four hours.

The police helicopter stationed nearby was scrambled, and a suspect was spotted hiding in a nearby field and detained.

Resident Alan Latham, who lives four doors away from the scene of the impact, said: “It was a terrible accident that completely blocked the road.”

Michelle Bywater Price, a barmaid at The Royal Oak, said: “The whole village is in shock.

“A lot of our customers use that road and there was a very sombre mood at the bar as news spread of the accident. One of the cars was so badly damaged that it was barely recognisable.”

Staffordshire Police confirmed that a man was helping with inquiries.