A WELL-RESPECTED Ross-on-Wye man, aged in his eighties, is fighting for his life at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham following a road traffic collision on Friday afternoon.

Sam Phillips, who was at the forefront of both the French and German Ross-on-Wye Twinning Associations and the Men’s Shed charity, was involved in a collision between two vehicles, a silver 4x4 Suzuki and a grey Ssangyong pickup, on the A49 near Harewood End on Friday, January 10, at around 5.05pm.

A crew from the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service extricated Mr Phillips and two others from their vehicles.

Three ambulance crews from the West Midlands Ambulance Service attended to the three injured people along with a trauma team and a doctor, who had arrived at the scene by air ambulance to treat the elderly man.

Once stable, Mr Phillips was taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further trauma care, where he remains. The two other casualties were discharged at the scene.

West Mercia Police have since launched an appeal for information on a road traffic collision which has left Mr Phillips with 'potentially life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information or has dashcam footage of the collision, or in the moments before, is asked to contact PC Tom Milton on 07773 049588 or email [email protected].

At Monday’s Ross Town Council meeting Cllr Ed O’Driscoll confirmed that Mr Phillips had been taken to the hospital in Birmingham and added that he is an active member of the local Liberal Democrats.

He added: “Everybody is keeping everything crossed for Sam’s speedy recovery following the serious accident he was involved in on Friday.

“Sam has always been a huge part of the community in Ross including many charitable organisations. While he is currently in a poor state we wish him well in his recovery.”