A SCHOOLBOY was among those seriously injured in a horror smash on a busy East Lancashire road.

The eight-year-old was a passenger in a silver Mercedes E280 when it collided with a red Ford Transit van head-on in Colne Road, Kelbrook.

He suffered two broken legs and was taken by ambulance to Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The car’s driver, a 69-year-old woman from Barnoldswick, was taken to the major trauma unit at Royal Preston Hospital, as was the driver of the van, a 26-year-old man from Skipton and his passenger, a 29-year-old woman from Nelson.

The 68-year-old man in the Mercedes, also from Barnoldswick, was airlifted to the major trauma unit at Leeds General Infirmary by the North West Air Ambulance.

A third car is also believed to have involved in the accident which ended up in a ditch at the side of the road.

Firefighters from Barnoldswick and Nelson were also called to help cut the victims free.

An investigation into the accident, which happened close to The Old Stone Trough at around 4.20pm on Thursday, has been launched and the road was closed for several hours causing traffic chaos.

Police are now appealed for witnesses.

Sgt Claire Pearson said: “If anyone has seen any of these vehicles travelling in the lead up to the collision, or indeed they witnessed the collision itself, please get in touch with us.”

Sgt Kim De Curtis used the Colne and West Craven Police’s Facebook page to yesterday hit back at ‘negative comments’ from users on the social networking site.

She said: “While I fully appreciate that it was a inconvenience for people stuck in the traffic and having to be diverted here, there and everywhere - I was one of them – my family were also stuck for well over a hour - at least we all got home in one piece and walked back through our front doors…because at least one person didn’t.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.