A TEENAGE girl was taken to hospital with life- threatening head injuries on Tuesday night following a road traffic collision outside The Bull Inn at Bentley. The incident, which resulted in a red Peugeot 206 rolling onto its roof and skidding across the road into a telegraph pole, took place just before 8pm on the Farnham-bound carriageway of the A31. The car had been in collision with a silver Vauxhall Corsa, which a bystander said "clipped" the Peugeot after swerving to avoid a cyclist. The 18-year-old front passenger of the Peugeot sustained life-threatening head injuries and was taken to Southampton General Hospital. The driver and other passengers received minor injuries. The17-year-old driver of the Corsa was arrested at the scene for dangerous driving and causing GBH but both she and her passenger were uninjured. Members of the public emerged from nearby houses and The Bull Inn to help those injured at the scene, including an off-duty fireman who described how a heroic cyclist climbed inside the car, despite the fact that it was leaking fuel, to comfort a girl trapped inside. Farnham firefighter Peter Temple was off duty at the time but was one of the first at the scene. "The driver of the silver car said that she was over- taking a cyclist and didn't see the car she clipped until it was too late and she had pulled out into it," he explained. "Before a fire engine from Farnham Green Watch arrived at the scene the members of the public were fantastic in comforting and helping those involved in the collision. A local doctor was there to help and one of the cyclists actually got inside the car to comfort one of the girls trapped inside. "At the time we thought the car was going to burst into flames as it was on its roof and a total write- off. Every panel was smashed." Mr Temple praised all of those who helped to ensure that the injured were put into recovery positions and covered with warm blankets to prevent shock before the emergency services arrived. "The actions of the general public on this occasion were incredible." The road remained closed for several hours following the incident and traffic was diverted into Farnham along the A325 through Alice Holt. Crew manager Ray Esher, who was at the scene with Farnham Green Watch, said: "There was one young lady still inside the car who we assisted in getting her out of the car as she had broken her leg. The telegraph lines didn't come down completely but were low enough that BT needed to be called out to cut them in order to let us through. It was carnage." Police are currently appealing for witnesses and anyone with information should contact Hampshire Police on 0845 0454545 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
