A MAN was badly hurt and had to be cut free from his car after a rush-hour crash on a busy dual carriageway.

The crash happened on the northbound carriageway of the A38, Worcester Road, in Droitwich, after a car collided with another travelling in the opposite direction just before 8am this morning.

The 21 year-old man suffered serious injuries to his back and neck and had to be cut out of his car while the other driver, a 28-year-old woman, escaped serious harm.

Two ambulances, two paramedics and an air ambulance attended the scene, while the road was closed in both directions for three hours to allow the air ambulance helicopter to land and emergency services to make the road safe.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "“One of the cars had come from the southbound carriageway. The driver of this car, a 21-year-old man, sustained neck and back pain and a suspected abdominal injury in the collision.

"The man was immobilised with a neck collar and spinal board before being taken by land ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

“The driver of the second car, a 28-year-old woman, sustained a graze to her nose but no other injuries. She was discharged on scene.”

A spokeswoman for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to the scene at 7.51am, and sent crews from Worcester and Droitwich.

"One male driver had to excavated from the car, while the woman had self-released."

The road was eventually re-opened around 11am.

The two cars involved were a silver Hyundai Coupe and a blue Ford Fiesta.

Police are urging anyone with information about the crash to call the non-emergency number, 101, quoting incident number 83 of March 13.