A TEENAGER was fighting for his life today after a car being chased by police crashed at high speed in Bury.

The 17-year-old driver, whose identity had not been released earlier today, smashed into a stationary vehicle in Croft Lane, Hollins, last night, suffering severe head and internal injuries.

The crash came just minutes after the teenage boy, who was with a 17-year-old male front seat passenger, had been spotted "acting suspiciously" driving a car at the Pilsworth Industrial Estate.

Police said today that they lost track of the Vauxhall Nova after following the two youngsters.

But within minutes, the teenagers, both believed to be from the Middleton area of Manchester, lost control on a bend on Croft Lane, near the Roach Bank pub, smashing into a stationary vehicle.

Firemen cut the pair free from the mangled car just before 10.30pm and they were taken to Bury General Hospital.

Today police said the driver was in a "critical" condition while his passenger, who suffered a broken collar bone, was not in danger.

The BEN also understands that the seriously-injured youngster was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the smash. A paramedic said: "It was a miracle either of them got out alive."

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