TWO people were airlifted to hospital – one in a serious condition –following a crash near Leominster last night.

Ambulance crews assessed a total of nine patients and took four people to hospital following the three-car collision on the A49 in Leominster, near to the OK Diner, just before 6.20pm.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls to the incident and sent three ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Strensham to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival at the scene, it became immediately apparent to crews that the most seriously injured patient was a passenger in one of the cars.

“The woman, believed to be in her 40s, had suffered multiple serious injuries and was found to be in cardiac arrest.

“She was rapidly freed from the car by ambulance crews who began performing CPR and advanced life support.

“They successfully managed to restart her heart before emergency treatment continued as the woman was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, in a critical condition.

“From the same car, a man in his 60s, managed to free himself before being treated for a chest injury as well as minor head and back injuries. He was immobilised and given pain relief before being airlifted to the same hospital.

“A young boy and a young girl from the same car were treated for chest pain and a leg injury respectively before being transported to Hereford Hospital by land ambulance.

“Travelling in a second car, a man in his 40s was treated for minor head and back injuries. A woman in her 30s escaped uninjured and a young girl was assessed for a minor shoulder injury. All three were discharged at the scene.

“From the third car, a man and woman, both believed to be in their 30s, were also discharged at the scene with minor injuries.”