A van driver is fighting for his life after a crash involving a lorry yesterday.

The victim had to be cut free by firefighters and was flown to hospital after the crash on the A28 at Bethersden.

The van had caught fire and a nearby resident put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.

South Kent Police spokesman Jon Green said: “The victim was seriously injured and ended up in intensive care in hospital.”

The crash happened at 3.15pm.

It had involved a Ford Transit, driven by the injured man, a Vauxhall Vectra, travelling from Ashford towards High Halden and a Renault Magnum lorry going in the opposite direction.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called and firefighters had to use hydraulic cutting equipment to free the victim.

Ollie Tapley, who lives nearby, said his father Paul took on the blaze in the van.

He said: “He was the first on the scene and put the fire out with an extinguisher.

“If he hadn’t been there the man in the Transit could have had far worse injuries or this accident could have been fatal.”

The victim was taken by Kent Air Ambulance to the Royal London Hospital and the road was closed until midnight.