AN ELDERLY man was seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash which closed a vital main road for more than three hours during Monday evening s peak time. The accident involving a lorry and two cars happened just before 5pm along the A5 in Flamstead, betwe

AN ELDERLY man was seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash which closed a vital main road for more than three hours during Monday evening's peak time.

The accident involving a lorry and two cars happened just before 5pm along the A5 in Flamstead, between Junction 9 of the M1 and Chequers Hill.

An elderly Markyate man driving a blue Jaguar had to be cut free from his car by firefighters and was taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.

The driver of the Mercedes lorry sustained minor injuries which were treated at the scene and the blue Citroen C5 driver was uninjured.

Firefighters from Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Markyate and Redbourn attended the incident.

Police closed the road and stopped vehicles leaving the M1 at Junction 9 until about 8.20pm.

Paul Davis, ambulance station manager who co-ordinated the response, said: "The man in the car sustained serious injuries and required immediate attention. The crews worked exceptionally hard to treat the casualties throughout the incident. The man was stabilised at the roadside then conveyed to a waiting trauma team at Luton and Dunstable hospital.