A TRAPPED pensioner was cut free and airlifted to hospital after his box van was involved in a five vehicle crash yesterday (June 4).

The smash involving the 64-year-old man happened at 5.12pm on the A66 Sandford Road between Appleby and Brough.

Two other HGVs driven by men, a beige Nissan Micra driven by a woman from Sunderland and a white For Mondeo driven by a 44-year-old man from Derbyshire were involved.

Two Cumbria Fire and Rescue engines from Penrith, one from Appleby and one from Kirkby Stephen attended and firefighters freed the pensioner with specialist cutting equipment before he was airlifted to hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries.

The crash caused the road to be closed, resulting in large traffic queues which delayed the recovery vehicles and road sweeper reaching the crash site.

Traffic was able to pass the scene from the Penrith direction for a time to allow the recovery vehicles and sweeper to travel to the scene. The eastbound carriageway opened at about 7.35pm.

Cumbria Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to call non-emergency 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.