UPDATE: Arrests after woman wounded in quad bike crash near Malmesbury
Police have launched a manhunt for a suspect after a woman was critically wounded in a crash.
Emergency services were called to a serious road traffic collision in Whitehouse Lane in Shipton Moyne, just outside Malmesbury, at around 2pm today (Saturday).
Two vehicles were involved, with a young woman subsequently sustaining significant injuries ‘when she was dragged along the road’. However, the exact circumstances are unclear at present.
Three air ambulance crews rushed to the scene, including Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Midlands Air Ambulance in helicopters and Great Western Air Ambulance in a rapid response vehicle.
The casualty was airlifted to the major trauma centre at Southmead Hospital in Bristol by Wiltshire Air Ambulance – where she remains in a life-threatening condition.
A suspect reportedly fled before police arrived, sparking a manhunt – with the National Police Air Service helicopter from Bristol deployed to the skies.
The chopper circled above Shipton Moyne and Easton Grey – approximately one mile from the home of King Charles, Highgrove House – in search of the person.
It’s not clear whether the suspect has been apprehended following the extensive search on the Wiltshire-Gloucestershire border.
Roads policing officers from Wiltshire Police attended the incident in support of Gloucestershire Constabulary, who will be heading up the forensic collision investigation.
The road is likely to remain closed in both directions overnight and into Sunday morning (24 December) whilst work is ongoing at the scene.