Emergency services have been at the scene of two serious crashes - with the A249 now fully open.

Crews were sent to the scene of the first crash at Bobbing at around 4am today.

A lorry and a car collided, between the B2006 for the Bobbing Roundabout and the A2 for the Key Street Roundabout.

Tailbacks on the A249 were at one stage stretching back to the Iwade and Kemsley turn-off and on the A2 to Staplehurst Road.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said one car was involved in the first accident and a man was cut free from the vehicle, and taken to hospital with serious injuries.

An air ambulance spokesman said he was suffering from head and chest injuries, and was taken by land ambulance to King's College Hospital in London.

But as traffic queued after the first crash, a second serious accident happened a short distance away on the same carriageway.

It came close to the junction for Bobbing and was reported to have involved a vehicle and stationary traffic, which was queuing as a result of the first accident.

A man was taken to a London hospital with serious injuries.

The road was shut both ways until 7.40am, when the northbound carriageway reopened. The southbound carriageway reopened around 11.30am.

A crew from Sittingbourne and another from Sheppey were sent to the scene.

Sittingbourne Fire Station crew manager, Mat Barney, said: “We were called at 4.05am to an RTC directly underneath the Key Street roundabout, Maidstone-bound, involving a silver Renault Clio and a large goods vehicle.

“The only casualty was the driver of the Renault. We had to use hydraulic rescue equipment to cut the car to create space to remove him.

“He was taken out and conveyed to a hospital in London by land ambulance.

“An air ambulance doctor, who had come by car, followed them in his car.

“We were there for about an hour.”

The two crews were about to return to their stations when a call came in about the second accident, just a few hundred yards back up the carriageway.

“It was about 5.15am,” said Mr Barney.

“A red panel van had collided with a stationary articulated lorry.

“There were two casualties, both in the van, the driver, who was a 21-year-old male, and the passenger, a 20-year-old male.

“The van had left the carriageway and was balancing on the railing which forms the side of the bank and there was a sheer drop the other side.

“We used a winch to secure the vehicle to the lorry so it didn’t move.

“Police were already there and administering first aid. The driver had sustained serious injuries.

"A police officer was holding his right arm up because there was a lot of blood coming from that.

“We had to get the casualty out very quickly so we pinned the door and man-handled him out. He was taken to hospital by land ambulance.

“The passenger was conscious and breathing but had sustained injuries.

“He was put on a long board and also taken by ambulance to hospital.”

Police are appealing for anyone who saw either crash or the vehicles in the lead up to the accidents, to call the serious collision investigation unit on 01622 798538.

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