Two hurt as crash causes chaos

Mar 6 2007 By Dale Williams, Birmingham Mail

TWO teenage women suffered multiple injuries in an horrific crash in the Black Country todayTUE.

Emergency crews were called to Newtown Street in Cradley Heath after a car apparently ploughed into the back of a stationary lorry.

The smash happened at around 8.30am, causing rush-hour traffic chaos in the area.

The woman driver, aged 19 and from the Cradley Heath area, and her passenger, thought to be 18 and also local, were both pinned inside the wrecked vehicle.

Fire crews from Cradley Heath, Brierley Hill and the Major Rescue Unit from West Bromwich station were scrambled to the scene.

One of the women was placed on a spine board to immobilise her after suffering suspected back injuries.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "The women were trapped in the vehicle and firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to remove parts of the car to enable them to be extricated."

Paramedics were also called to the scene and gave the injured women first-aid and stabilised them while they were cut free.

Firefighters were at the scene for well over an hour and worked to clear up debris from the road after releasing the victims. Both women were taken to Russells Hall Hospital.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "The incident by about 10am was still on-going and traffic officers had closed of the road to carry out accident investigations. One of the women had certainly suffered facial injuries and there could be other injuries involved."

Witnesses are urged to call traffic police on 0845 133 5000.