Man fights for life after collision

A man was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries after a collision in Staffordshire this morning.

It happened at around 6.20am on Rawnsley Road at its junction with Stringers Hill in Hazel Slade, near Hednesford, and involved a Land Rover and a K-registration Mini.

The man driving the Mini was trapped for around 25 minutes and had to be cut free by firefighters using specialist hydraulic equipment.

Two crews from Cannock fire station plus a rescue tender from Stafford attended the scene and worked to free the driver.

The man, aged in his twenties, was taken by land ambulance to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Land Rover is believed to have escaped with only minor injuries.

Police closed Rawnsley Road from its junction with Rugeley Road as police officers carried out an investigation of the crash to try and determine what happened.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to the scene of the accident at 6.30am this morning where one male aged in his twenties was trapped.

"He was taken to the trauma unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire with serious and life-threatening injuries." Drivers were urged to stay away from Rawnsley Road this morning, which is a main route from Hazel Slade into Hednesford and from the village towards areas such as Burntwood and Lichfield.

A fire officer from Stafford was also sent to the scene to assist in the rescue and investigation.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police added: "We closed the road to allow officers to investigate the scene and we would urge anyone who saw the accident or possibly saw the vehicles shortly before the accident to contact us as soon as possible."

Anyone who witnessed the crash should contact Staffordshire Police on 08453 302010.