A DRIVER is being hunted by police after a head-on crash with an ambulance in Astley Bridge.

The accident happened in Blackburn Road at about 6.15am, when a BMW 325 Series smashed into an ambulance on the road near Crompton Way.

Police said the BMW driver ran from the scene and officers are still searching for him.

No-one was seriously injured in the crash, but the two paramedics suffered minor injuries and had to go to hospital.

The ambulance was on its way to an incident, and as such had no patients inside.

A section of the road was closed until 12.15pm while recovery workers removed the ambulance and clear debris from the road, but it has now fully reopened.

Traffic queued on the Bolton-bound side of the road between Moss Bank Way and Seymour Road.

Vehicles were diverted along Crompton Way.

Witnesses described the incident as a "head-on smash" between an ambulance and a car.

Chris Hutchinson, aged 28, of Milnholme, told The Bolton News: "I didn't witness the accident but must have just missed it.

"It looks like ambulance was heading down A666 and the BMW has either crossed its path coming from Moss Bank Way or they have collided head on with the BMW coming up the A666 turning right onto Crompton Way."


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A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We can confirm that an ambulance was involved in collision with a BMW at 6.15am at the Crompton Way/Blackburn Road junction.

“A senior officer was dispatched to the scene.

“Two staff members were taken to Salford Royal Hospital with injuries. One has since been released.

“It is believed the ambulance was travelling to an incident. A second ambulance was dispatched to the original 999 call.

“We will work with Greater Manchester Police and undertake a full investigation into the incident.”

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