A MAN and a teenager were both taken to the region’s major trauma centres after suffering injuries in a crash in Hagley this morning (February 3).

The crash – which involved a van and a car hitting a tree – took place near to the Badgers Sett pub between Hagley and Halesowen, shortly before 8am.

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 8am, with West Mercia Police closing the A456 westbound for a considerable amount of time.

West Midlands Ambulance Service sent two ambulances, a paramedic area support officer, a BASICS doctor and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford to the scene.

The driver of the van was initially released from his car with support from fire service crews from both Stourbridge and Kidderminster stations, and was treated by ambulance staff for a head injury and a reduced level of consciousness before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham.

The teenager, a male passenger, freed himself from the van and was treated for minor injuries, while the driver of the car was uninjured.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews were told the van collided with the tree after an initial collision with a car.

“The van suffered significant damage in the incident, particularly to the front driver’s side of the vehicle.

“The driver of the van, a man believed to be in his 30s, managed to free himself from the vehicle before lying down across the back seats.

“He was treated by ambulance staff for a head injury and a reduced level of consciousness before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham by land ambulance. The doctor from the air ambulance travelled with the patient to continue treatment en-route.

“The passenger, a teenage male, also freed himself and was treated for minor injuries before being taken to the same hospital as a precaution.

“The driver of the car, a man, was uninjured in the incident.”

The crash caused major tailbacks across the area, with motorists being warned to stay clear of the area before the road was re-opened.