Police officer taken to hospital after crash in Chorley

Emergency services were mobilised after a police van crashed into another vehicle near the Plough Inn at around 6.15pm.

Fire crews and paramedics, including the air ambulance, attended the scene, with the officer one of two casualties taken to hospital.

Lancashire Police said his injuries are serious, but not life-threatening.

The driver of the other vehicle, a woman, was also injured and taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment.

Both casualties had to be freed from their cars by firefighters before being passed over to paramedics.

An ambulance spokesman said: "We were called at 6.21pm to reports of a road traffic collision in Pall Mall, Chorley.

"We attended with two ambulances, an air ambulance and a tactical commander.

"Two patients were taken to hospital with back injuries."

A police spokesman said: "We were called at about 6.15pm yesterday evening (Monday, July 13) to a report of a collision between a police van and a Peugeot car on Pall Mall in Chorley.

"The police car was travelling along Pall Mall towards Moor Road when it was involved in a collision with the other vehicle at the junction with Duke Street.

"The driver and sole occupant of the police car, a male officer, was taken to hospital by ambulance.

"His injuries are thankfully not believed to be life threatening.

"The other driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

"Enquiries are ongoing.

"Anyone with information or witnesses should call police on 101 quoting log number 1094 of July 13."

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service added: "Fire crews from Chorley and one crew from Horwich (GMFRS) attended a road traffic collision at the junction of Pall Mall and Devonshire Road, Chorley.

"There were two vehicles involved and two casualties who needed extricating from vehicles at the scene.

"Firefighters rescued the casualties using long boards. Both casualties were assessed by ambulance crews before being transported to hospital.

"Firefighters were in attendance approximately fifty minutes."

It is understood that police had been responding to an incident involving a large group of youths in and around the Pall Mall and Duke Street area when the crash happened.

Eyewitnesses had reported confrontations between gangs of youths in the area at around the time of the accident.

Chorley Police posted on Facebook, urging motorists to avoid the area whilst officers investigated.

The force said: "We are currently investigating a road traffic collision on Pall Mall, Chorley and the road is likely to be closed for some time, please avoid the area."

Lancashire Police has been approached for further details regarding reports of youths fighting in the street.