ELDERLY CRASH COUPLE CUT FREE

AN ELDERLY couple were seriously injured following a head-on collision on a busy South Devon road at the weekend.

The elderly man and woman had to be cut free from the wreckage of their blue Chevrolet Matiz after it was in a collision with a grey MG ZT on the A382 Bovey Tracey Road near Forches Cross on Saturday at 3.30pm.

The driver, an elderly woman from Ilsington near Bovey Tracey, was placed on a spinal board before being airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

The man who was in the passenger seat and is also from Ilsington was taken by road ambulance to Torbay Hospital.

Both were described by police as in a ‘serious condition’ yesterday.

Police said the passenger suffered internal chest injuries but would not disclose the extent of the woman’s injuries.

A spokesman said they did not believe the injuries were life threatening.

A 44-year-old man from Torquay was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving following the accident.

The crash forced the closure of the busy A382 between Forches Cross and Trago Mills for nine hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.

The road was reopened at 12.30am yesterday.

Two pumps from Newton Abbot’s retained fire station and 10 firefighters attended the incident.

Station commander Mark Palmer said the rescue operation was a ‘challenging job’ and required the use of hydraulic cutting equipment to cut off the roof of the damaged car before its occupants could be freed.

He said: “It was a difficult and challenging job because the car was on an embankment.

“We had to use stabilising equipment to make sure it didn’t roll before we could take the roof off.

“The elderly woman was taken on a spinal board and airlifted out.”

The crews also made both cars safe by disabling the batteries.

Police said the driver of the MG ZT, who is believed to be from Torquay, was unhurt.

He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving and was taken to Newton Abbot police station for questioning.

A police spokesman said he was still being questioned yesterday afternoon.

Ollie Tayler, the senior investigation officer in charge, added: “The driver of the other vehicle involved was uninjured and was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving.

“He is currently being questioned by roads policing officers from Newton Abbot.

“We are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or the manner of driving of a grey MG ZT vehicle on the A382 at the time of the collision to contact the police.”

Anyone with information should contact 08452 777444 quoting the incident log number 637 23/04/11.