A MAN died today in a crash involving a car transporter and two cars near Manston airport at Ramsgate. Police say the 61-year-old man, from Herne Bay, was driving a Jaguar that was struck by the articulated lorry and pushed into the path of an oncoming Ford Mondeo.

The Kent Air Ambulance was called to the crash scene at Canterbury Road West and airlifted the seriously injured motorist to the Queen Mother Hospital at Margate. Police say he was dead on arrival.

A family travelling in the Mondeo, a 36-year-old woman, a 33-year-old man, a six-year-old girl and an 18-month-old baby, escaped without serious injury. They were treated at hospital in Margate.

Det Con Steve Adelsberg said: “They were extremely fortunate not to be seriously hurt. Police are currently questioning the transporter driver, who is a 35-year-old man from Powys, Wales.”

The crash happened at about 11am on the A253 between Mount Pleasant at Minster and the Lord of the Manor roundabout. Police believe the Jaguar was stationary, indicating to turn into Thorne Road, when it was hit. The road was closed for more than three hours and a crash investigation team was called to the scene.

The death has been reported to Thanet coroner Rebecca Cobb and an inquest will be held.