Man killed helping crash motorist

The crashes occurred on both carriageways of the A737 near Linwood

One man has died and another is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a van in Renfrewshire.

The men were struck while helping another motorist on the A737 near Linwood at about 2020 GMT on Sunday.

The had stopped their vehicles to assist a 71-year-old woman whose car had crossed the carriageway after an earlier collision involving two cars.

Police said a 47-year-old man died at the scene. A 39-year-old sustained serious head and leg injuries.

The elderly woman is being treated for a shoulder injury.

The incidents unfolded after a Volkswagen Polo, driven by the 71-year-old woman, was involved in a crash with a Seat Leon, driven by a 25-year-old woman, on the A737 Linclive Spur near Linwood.

As a result of the crash, the Polo crossed the central reservation and ended up on the westbound carriageway.

Unfortunately this tragic incident also shows how dangerous busy roads can be, and I would urge anyone who witnesses a road crash on a busy road not to walk along the carriageways, but contact the emergency services Insp Paul Reilly Strathclyde Police

The crash was witnessed by two men travelling on the eastbound carriageway who stopped to help - a 47-year-old driving a Volkswagen Sharan and a 39-year-old driving a BMW three series.

Both men stopped their vehicles and crossed the carriageway to help the woman in the Polo.

They were assisting the 71-year-old when a Vauxhall Combo van, being driven westbound by a 48-year-old man, struck the car and the two men.

Emergency services were called but the 47-year-old man died at the scene.

The 39-year-old man is in a critical condition at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

'Tragic incident'

The 71-year-old driver of the Volkswagen Polo is in a stable condition at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

The 25-year-old driver of the Seat Leon was uninjured as was the 48-year-old van driver.

Insp Paul Reilly, of Strathclyde Police, said: "The two men were assisting the elderly injured woman, when they were stuck by the van on the carriageway.

"Unfortunately this tragic incident also shows how dangerous busy roads can be, and I would urge anyone who witnesses a road crash on a busy road not to walk along the carriageways, but contact the emergency services."

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them.