A WOMAN is today fighting for her life after the car she was driving was in collision with a van in Stowmarket.The woman and her male passenger both had to be cut free from the wreckage of their vehicle and were taken to the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, by ambulance.

By Georgina James

A WOMAN is today fighting for her life after the car she was driving was in collision with a van in Stowmarket.

The woman and her male passenger both had to be cut free from the wreckage of their vehicle and were taken to the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, by ambulance.

Doctors at the hospital later reported that the woman is in a very serious condition.

A Suffolk Police spokeswoman said: "The hospital have contacted us to say that the female driver of the car is in a very serious condition, and her male passenger has moderate but serious chest injuries."

The crash happened at just after 6am on Gipping Way, near to the Volkswagen garage. It involved a blue P-reg Rover and a white R-reg box van.

The driver of the van was treated at the scene by paramedics but his injuries are not believed to be serious.

Police immediately closed the junction of Gipping Way and Station Road and set up diversions to take the early morning traffic away from the crash scene while the vehicles were recovered.

The exact cause of the accident is not yet known but the police helicopter was scrambled so that aerial photographs could be taken in order to help accident investigators compile their report.

The highways agency was also called to the accident as there was an oil spillage on the road as a result of the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call Suffolk Police on 01473 613500.