CORONATION Street fans will see single mother Sarah Platt lapse into a coma following an horrific car smash.

The troubled teenager, battered and bruised from a joyriding experience, will be fighting for her life in hospital. Viewers will see the crash on October 21 in a Corrie double-bill.

A spokeswoman for the show said: "Her life will be hanging in the balance."

Sarah (Tina O'Brien) is left in a coma after taking a ride with street rebel Ade -- played by Dean Ashton -- in teacher Ken Barlow's car.

But after the spectacular accident, Ade flees the scene leaving Sarah critically ill in the wreckage.

Gail Hillman will be seen keeping a vigil by her daughter's hospital bedside.

The spokeswoman added: "As time goes by, Gail becomes acutely aware there's no certainty that Sarah will come round and is forced to contemplate the possibility of losing her daughter."

Ade is also forced to make a desperate plea to Sarah's friend Candice (Nikki Sanderson) not to contact police to say he was the driver of the stolen car.