A TEENAGER was killed when a high powered car careered out of control and crashed head-on into a van on a Bolton country road.

The youth who died was a passenger in the van travelling towards Bolton.

Two other people were left seriously injured in the rush hour accident in Bradshaw Road, Bradshaw. One was airlifted in the Greater Manchester Police helicopter to the Royal Preston Hospital.

Police sealed off the area closing Bradshaw Road for more than three hours.

The accident happened shortly before 8am on Thursday as a two-seater silver-coloured Renault Clio with a three litre engine -- believed to be one of only 200 in the country -- was being driven along Bradshaw Road, towards Tottington.

A police spokesman said the Clio is believed to have careered out of control and mounted the roadside kerb before catapulting across the road towards oncoming traffic and ploughing into the van.

The van was knocked off the road and rolled 20ft down an embankment. The Renault crashed into trees alongside the road.

All three casualties were trapped in the wreckage of the vehicles.

Motorists who witnessed the accident used their mobile phones to raise the alarm.

The road was sealed off as police, fire crews and ambulance paramedics treated the injured.

The teenage passenger in the van was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital. He was dead on arrival.

A second man, believed to be the driver of the van who suffered multiple fractures, was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital in the GMP helicopter accompanied by a paramedic. The third victim, the driver of the Renault, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with internal injuries..

Police, who said they did not know what caused the Renault to swerve out of control, are appealing for witnesses and want to speak to anyone who may have seen the car being driven along Bradshaw Road in the minutes leading up to the accident.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact the Bolton Police traffic unit, tel: 0161 856 5972.