A 54-YEAR-OLD man had to be airlifted to hospital following a “serious” crash involving an unmarked police car on a busy road near Stourport yesterday afternoon (May 28).

West Mercia Police confirmed a collision occurred on the southbound A449 in Hartlebury, at about 3.30pm, with the Midlands Air Ambulance being called to assist the paramedics, police and fire crews at the scene.

The incident involved an unmarked police vehicle, which was being driven by an officer and was responding to an emergency, and another car.

One member of the public, a 54-year-old man was seriously injured in the crash and was transported by air ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The officers involved received no injuries and did not require to attend hospital.

Chief Inspector Sharon Cannings of West Mercia Police said the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the force are “unable to comment any further at this time”.

The incident, which occurred near the Mitre Oak pub, caused huge traffic delays, with the road being closed for several hours from the Crossway Green Island by the Mitre Oak towards Dunhampton.