SIX people - including a pregnant woman and baby - needed hospital treatment after a spectacular three car crash on a notorious accident blackspot.

Two cars crashed head on, sending one shooting across the road on its roof into a third vehicle.

The crash is the latest in a spate of accidents on the Blackrod bypass at the junction with Manchester Road, Blackrod.

Traffic police officers are now seeking a meeting with council engineers to discuss the problems.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident which happened at 5.40pm last night.

A police spokesman said Ford Fiesta, driven by Christine Maybury, 37, of Darlington Street East, Wigan - carrying three passengers - collided head on with a Citroen, driven by 37-year-old Gillian Myers, a 22-week pregnant mother travelling with her 18-month baby daughter, Jessica. The impact of the crash sent the Fiesta rolling on to its roof into a stationary Vauxhall Astra driven by Roy McCracken of Horseshoe Lane, Bromley Cross. He escaped uninjured.

All the injured were taken to Bolton General Hospital. Mrs Maybury was not detained but her three passengers were still in hospital this afternoon. Lynn Marsh, 23, of Durham Street, Wigan, suffered pelvis and facial injuries, Sarah Fillingham, 20, of Durham Street, Wigan, had head and facial injuries, and Vivien Daniels, 37, of Lower Longshoot, Wigan, suffered shock and bruising. Mrs Myers and her daughter of Babylon Lane, Adlington, were treated for shock and bruising but were not detained. Sgt Les Millar of the Bolton Police traffic unit described the Blackrod by-pass as a notorious accident blackspot. "My worry is that sooner or later someone could be killed on this patch." Witnesses are asked to contact Bolton Traffic Police on 0161 872 5050.

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