Car crash victim in fight for life

Dec 20 2005 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

A MAN was fighting for his life in hospital today after he was almost decapitated in a horrific car smash.

The man, aged 28, suffered severe head injuries after a car skidded on a freezing road and ploughed into a tree and fence.

Paramedics battled to save him at the scene of the crash, which happened at 10.20pm last night in Vicarage Road, Amblecote, Stourbridge. He was rushed to Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said today: "First reports suggested the man had been killed but he was still alive when we got him to hospital.

"The man had been partially decapitated and paramedics at the scene were fighting to save his life."

A spokesman for Oldbury fire station said it appeared only one car had been involved. "It seems the car, a Vauxhall Vectra, had lost control on the icy road," he said. "The car was wrecked and the man, who was semi-conscious, was in the passenger seat with severe head injuries.

"We helped get him out as paramedics gave him emergency treatment but he was in a very bad way and the ambulance crew did not think he was going to survive."