A young driver had to be cut free from the wreckage of his car after a smash in Kirkburton.
The 21-year-old man was freed by firefighters before being airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary.
It is understood the man, who has not been named, suffered serious head and internal injuries and had an open fracture of the thigh bone.
The man was trapped in his Renault Clio after a collision with a flat-backed Fiat Ducato van on the A629 Penistone Road. The smash happened on a bend at just after 1pm today.
Police closed the road in both directions between Thunder Bridge Lane and North Road. Traffic was diverted through the centre of Kirkburton.
Paramedics were first on the scene and called for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The aircraft landed nearby while fire crews released the driver.
It is believed the car came around a bend side-on and struck the van which was coming in the opposite direction.
Watch commander Darren Bagley, of Huddersfield Fire Station, said that one crew from Huddersfield attended first as the second fire engine was already out on a fire call.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
A back-up crew from Skelmanthorpe Fire Station also attended.
Mr Bagley said paramedics were on the scene when firefighters arrived and indicated they wanted the man released as quickly as possible.
His condition was stabilised and firefighters using hydraulic spreaders and hydraulic cutters took the roof off the car.
It took around 20 minutes to free the driver, who was treated before being airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary.
The man’s condition was not known but the road remained closed for several hours while investigations into the cause of the crash got underway.
