Man ‘critical’ after Sabden road smash

Paramedics were called to the head-on crash which happened along a straight stretch of Whalley Road at 9-30 a.m.

One man had to be cut free from his vehicle by firefighters and all three casualties were treated at the scene before being taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Police sealed off the road following the crash and the route remains closed while officers carry out investigations into how the accident happened.

Crew manager Mark Hammond, of Padiham Fire Station, said: “There were two vehicles involved in a head-on collision on Whalley Road.

“When we arrived on the scene paramedics were already treating one casualty and another casualty had climbed out himself and was up against the wall at the side of the cars

“The combined speed of the impact must have been quite large because there was a lot of damage to both cars. We had to take the roof off one car completely which allowed us to get the long board in and get the man out.”

All three men were seriously hurt - with one having life-threatening injuries.

The Ford Focus and Ford Escort were both badly damaged in the car and blocked the narrow road which is still impassable.