TWO vehicles were involved in a rush hour head-on smash after a driver is believed to have collapsed at the wheel.

A Ford Mondeo and a Vauxhall Vectra taxi were involved in the crash at about 5.23pm in St Helens Road at the junction of Smethurst Lane.

The taxi was driving into Bolton, but spun round on impact. The Mondeo mounted the kerb and hit a wall outside a residential home, close to the Bolton Breakfast Bar.

The road was closed in both directions for a short time while police and recovery vehicles moved the cars.

Witnesses said that the two cars crashed head-on after the driver of the Ford Mondeo collapsed at the wheel.

One said: “It was a horrendous crash. I heard that one of the drivers had some kind of fit at the wheel and collapsed. The taxi spun round and ended up facing the other way. It was awful.”

A third vehicle was also believed to have been involved.

All passengers were believed to have been taken to hospital, but no one was thought to be seriously injured.

After the crash the road was closed between Morris Green Lane and Hulton Lane. The road was reopened shortly before 7pm.

A police spokesman said: “A three-vehicle road traffic collision happened at about 5.20pm.”

Police were still at the scene at 7.10pm investigating the accident.