A DRIVER was taken to hospital with head injuries after his van collided with a car before smashing into a tree on the A456 near Halesowen during yesterday’s rush-hour. (January 3).

The man, in his 30s, freed himself from the mangled wreckage, after the crash which happened near the Badgers Sett pub between Halesowen and Hagley at about 8.15am.

The air ambulance landed on a nearby field and the driver, who had started to lose consciousness, was taken by road ambulance to the regional trauma centre at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

A West Midlands Ambulance spokesman said after freeing himself, the injured driver lay down across the back seats.

He was accompanied to hospital by the doctor from the air ambulance to continue treatment en-route.

A teenage boy, also freed himself from the Vauxhall Vivaro van and was treated for minor injuries before being taken to the QE Hospital as a precaution. The driver of the car was uninjured.

West Mercia Police closed the westbound carriageway whilst the accident was dealt with, causing long traffic tailbacks.