THREE youths who crashed at a notorious accident blackspot on the edge of Malvern tried to hijack another car to escape the scene.

The crash happened at the B4503 Leigh Sinton road at Lower Interfields last Thursday.

Resident Moo Barrie said the car, coming from the Malvern direction, was out of control and hit an oncoming car travelling from Leigh Sinton towards Malvern.

She said: "The three men, one of whom was shouting ‘Get me out of here!’ got out and looked around, seeing what damage had been caused.

"All three ran towards another car parked in the lay-by, again shouting ‘Get me out of here!’ It became apparent they were trying to persuade the driver to drive them away.

"They forced their way into his car. He tried to remonstrate with them and then walked away from his car, making it clear he did not wish to become involved with the three. They then got out of his car and ran off up the road onto the grass verge, running towards Malvern."

Fiona Carmichael said: "There was a very loud bang that sounded like an explosion and the car that caused the accident was smoking in the lay-by. It had hit another car that was still on the road.

"We went out to see what had happened and the three guys who were driving the car that caused the accident were running off. We heard one of the guys shouting ‘get me out of here’ but we are not sure who they were shouting too.

"They must have been driving very fast as they ended up on the other side of the road. Their car was very damaged as was the car they hit."

A police spokesman said: ""Police were called to a report of a collision between a silver VW Golf estate and a grey Skoda Yeti 4x4, around 6.20pm on September 7.

"There are no reports of serious injury, but men believed to have been travelling in the Golf are reported to have left the scene following the collision.

"Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 612s of September 7."

The road is a notorious accident blackspot, where residents have been trying for years to have traffic calming measures installed.

David Barrie said: "We are painfully aware of our vulnerability. The vehicle-activated sign clocks vehicles that exceed the speed limit, and it is over 6,000 a week, in one direction alone. When the traffic was measured back in January, even in the bad weather, cars were doing in excess of 75mph.

"Amongst the many crashes were all three of our cars written off in one crash, a car ramming its way into my neighbour's living room, and several others. The road is wide and invites speed. Coming from Malvern they put their foot down, and they lose control on the bend before our layby."