TWO people are fighting for the lives today following an horrific crash on one of the region's most dangerous roads last night.The head-on collision between a car and a horsebox happened at Stoke Ash, near Eye, on the A140 between Ipswich and Norwich close to the scene of another chilling smash six days ago which left a nurse fighting for her life.

TWO people are fighting for the lives today following an horrific crash on one of the region's most dangerous roads last night.

The head-on collision between a car and a horsebox happened at Stoke Ash, near Eye, on the A140 between Ipswich and Norwich close to the scene of another chilling smash six days ago which left a nurse fighting for her life.

Emergency services were called to the A140 shortly before 7.40pm after reports of the crash and found two people "severely" trapped in their vehicles.

Firefighters from Eye and Debenham released the casualties, but the ambulance service confirmed that one person had died in the crash, with two others being treated at Ipswich Hospital for "serious" head injuries. It is unknown if those injuries are life threatening.

Four ambulance crews, a rapid response vehicle and a doctor from the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service were called to the accident, as well as a RAF helicopter from Wattisham Airfield.

Police blocked the road and diverted traffic through the village of Thorndon in the aftermath of the accident – which is the second serious smash on the A140 stretch of Stoke Ash in less than a week.

Last Thursday, Kathy Sparkes, a nurse from Wyverstone, near Stowmarket, suffered serious injuries after her car collided with a lorry at Stoke Ash, smashing into the village's White Horse pub, which stands beside the A140.

The mother-of-three was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in a "critical" condition but was yesterday back in a Suffolk hospital and said to be making good progress. In the past five years, there have been 20 injuries as a result of accidents in Stoke Ash alone.

Recent accidents have prompted safety campaigners to further their calls for safety improvements to the A140 stretch, which has now claimed 80 lives in the last 20 years.

One month ago – on February 15 – a motorist was killed on the A140 south of last night's crash scene, in Brockford, near Eye, when his van collided with a lorry. Barry Pope, 64, of New Costessy, near Norwich, was certified dead at the scene while the lorry driver was airlifted to hospital with multiple injuries.