A DRIVER is fighting for his life after a three-car smash in the early hours of today.

Emergency services were called to St Helens Road, Daubhill, at 5.40am and police say that two vehicles crashed on the road and hit a parked and unattended vehicle.

The driver of the one of the vehicles, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He remains in a critical condition.

The driver of the other vehicle remained at the scene to assist officers with enquiries. Police have not confirmed the make and type of vehicles involved.

PC Oliver Batty, of GMP’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “We are currently investigating this collision and would urge any members of the public that may have seen the incident or been in the area before or after the collision to please contact us.

“Anyone with information - including dashcam or CCTV footage of the incident - is asked to report it online or by using the LiveChat service at www.gmp.police.uk or call the serious collision investigation unit on 0161 856 4741.”

The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

The cordon stretched from the Asda Superstore to Mother Hubbard’s Chip Shop.

Pedestrians were turned away and traffic diverted and accident investigators stayed on the scene into late afternoon.

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “At around 5.45am, two fire engines from Bolton fire station and a technical response unit from Leigh, attended St Helens Road in Bolton following reports of a collision involving two cars.

“The cars involved were made safe by firefighters. One man was conveyed to hospital by North West Ambulance Service and two other men were assessed at the scene by a fire service trauma technician. Firefighters were in attendance for approximately one hour.”

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called to an road traffic collision at 5.41am. One patient has been taken to hospital. The cordon was lifted just before 4.30pm."