A DRIVER was flown to hospital by helicopter after breaking his neck in a high-speed smash.

The 54-year-old had to be cut from the wreck of his Vauxhall Astra by firefighters after the crash with a Land Rover Discovery in Upper Cumberworth yesterday morning.

Both vehicles ended up in fields following the collision at the junction of Windmill Lane and Broadstone Road at about 7am.

Sgt Paul Denton, of Huddersfield road traffic police, said: “To see the level of devastation afterwards it could quite easily have ended with a fatality.”

The incident happened as the Astra drove down Windmill Lane from the direction of Scholes towards High Flatts.

Its front end collided with the front nearside of the Discovery, which was being driven from Penistone towards the Sovereign crossroads along Broadstone Road.

The road was closed by police and firefighters from Skelmanthorpe, Holmfirth and Huddersfield were called to rescue the Astra driver, who is thought to be from Rotherham.

Skelmanthorpe crew commander Richard Taylor said: “The front end of the Astra was quite severely impacted.

“We had to stabilise the vehicle, then remove the roof, put the casualty on a long board and lift him out before he was taken by Yorkshire Air Ambulance to hospital.”

The man, who was conscious, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The 38-year-old Huddersfield man who was driving the Discovery was said to have been “walking wounded,” but not seriously hurt.

Sgt Denton paid tribute to consultant anaesthetist Jez Pinnell, based at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, who works with the air ambulance as well as Yorkshire Ambulance Service and attended the incident.

He said: “He helps to stabilise patients before they are moved and his attendance at these incidents is instrumental in saving lives.”