Woman, 22, dies after car crashes into ditch in notorious moorland black spot

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the crash in Grane Road, near the Grey Mare Inn, in the village of Belthorn, at around 10.37am yesterday (February 20).

The woman, who has not yet been named by police, died after a car crashed into a ditch close to the moorland pub, four miles west of Haslingden.

Police said the woman's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Lancashire Police said it will release a full statement later today.

What we know so far

At around 10.40am yesterday, emergency services were called to a crash close to the Grey Mare Inn in Grane Road, near the junction with Jackson Heights Road, in the moorland village of Belthorn.

The incident involved two cars, with one vehicle landing on its side in a ditch.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) responded with two fire engines and had to cut a casualty free from one of the cars.

"We received a call at 10.39am," said an LFRS spokesman.

"Two fire engines from Haslingden and Rawtenstall attended this road traffic collision involving two vehicles on Grane Road in Haslingden, Rossendale.

"Firefighters extricated one casualty from a vehicle."

North West Ambulance Service sent an operational commander to the scene to help coordinate its emergency response.

A spokesperson for NWAS said: "We received the call at 10.37am and attended the scene with two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, advanced paramedic and an operational commander.

"One patient was taken to hospital.

"The collision involved two vehicles, one of which was off the road.

"We left the incident at 12.04pm."

Police closed the exit slip road at junction 5 of the M65, less than a mile away, whilst emergency services attended the scene.

A police spokesperson said: ""The exit slip road at junction five of the M65 has been closed to stop traffic from going down the Grane Road while emergency services deal with the incident."