PHOTOS: Man trapped after 4x4 and trailer overturn down embankment on A361 North Devon Link Road

A man was taken to hospital with head and leg injuries after a Range Rover towing a trailer rolled down a 20ft embankment off the A361 North Devon Link Road yesterday.

The man, who was a back seat passenger in the vehicle, was trapped by his leg after the car veered off the carriageway and overturned down an embankment.

The single-vehicle crash happened on the Barnstaple-bound carriageway of the link road, just after the turning to Knowstone and Rackenford, at around 11.35am.

The green Range Rover, which was towing a trailer full of wooden pallets, was seen to roll over several times before coming to a rest on its side at the foot of the embankment.

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Three of the vehicle's four passengers were able to free themselves from the vehicle but the man, who is believed to be in his 60s or 70s, remained trapped.

Fire crews from Barnstaple, South Molton, Witheridge and two specialist rescue appliances from Middlemoor attended, as well as several police cars and ambulances.

The Devon Air Ambulance was also called to the scene and landed in a nearby field.

The 4x4 vehicle was on its side and it was difficult for crews to access the trapped passenger due to the overgrowth.

Firefighters spent an hour attempting to free the man, and cut the door off the vehicle, using hydraulic cutting equipment, three tirfor winches, two triple extension ladders and small tools.

Police closed the Barnstaple-bound carriageway and used the dual carriageway of the Tiverton-bound side to allow motorists to pass the incident.

Once the man was released from the vehicle, he was placed on a stretcher and firefighters slid the stretcher up a ladder to get the casualty back to the main road. He was then treated by paramedics in an ambulance before being taken to hospital for treatment.

The other three occupants of the vehicle were checked over by paramedics at the scene but their injuries were not thought to be serious.

Police closed the road fully for a short period of time while the air ambulance lifted and the vehicle was recovered from the overgrowth.

The road was clear by 5pm.