AN INQUIRY is underway after an ambulance and a car were involved in a crash on the outskirts of Blackburn.

Firefighters were called to the junction of Ramsgreave Drive and Whalley New Road at around 8pm on Thursday after an ambulance on an emergency call collided with a silver saloon.

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Blackburn crew manager John Riley said: “The ambulance was responding to an incident under blue lights when the collision happened.

“On arrival the fire service had to use hydraulic spreaders to open the car door to allow the female driver to be released and conveyed to hospital with minor injuries.

“The ambulance crew was unhurt. After the casualty was released the fire service made the car and ambulance safe.

“Police are investigating the cause of the collision.”

The ambulance is known to have received damage to its front offside and the silver saloon car to the driver’s side.

The road was closed for some time after Thursday’s accident while the emergency services removed the vehicles and debris from the scene.

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said that the ambulance was on its way to an incident in Blackburn at the time of the collision.

Another ambulance was sent to the scene to take the driver and three passengers, all suffering from minor injuries, to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

“It is normally the case that the ambulance would be taken out of service if it had been involved in a collision and the crew will be spoken to by the police and ourselves,” said the spokesman.

Cllr Ron Whittle, who represents the Roe Lee ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said that he witnessed the immediate aftermath of the incident, including a damaged lamp-post and a traffic light which was affected by the crash.

He added: “I’m not aware of any recent accidents here, it’s a busy road in the day but it should have been quiet atround this time."

“If there are blues lights on an ambulance then it is usually the responsibility of the driver to take care.”

An inquiry has been launched by the road policing unit and witnesses are urged to call police on 101.