POLICE arrested a man in Watchet on Friday night (February 6) several hours after a serious car crash which injured a passenger and resulted in the closure of Brendon Road overnight.

A blue Ford C-Max ploughed into and partially demolished a wall at about 6.10 pm near the former Wansbrough Paper Mil site.

The driver ran off, leaving a seriously injured man in the vehicle to be found when police and paramedics arrived at the scene.

Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) sent a helicopter from its Exeter base, but the passenger was taken in a land ambulance to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, with the DAA critical care team travelling with him in the vehicle.

Police said the family of the injured man had been made aware of what happened and he remained in hospital on Saturday.

Inquiries were carried out by police which several hours later saw them arrest a man aged in his 20s.

He was arrested on suspicion of several driving-related offences, including causing serious injury by dangerous driving, as well as driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Brendon Road was closed overnight, forcing drivers to use the Doniford road to reach or leave Watchet, and only reopened late on Saturday morning.

First Bus diverted its No 28 Minehead to Taunton bus away from Watchet during the closure and instead travelled via Washford and Williton.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the single-vehicle collision or anybody who saw the Ford C-Max before the crash, including people with CCTV or dashcam footage.

Anybody who can help should call 101 quoting reference 5226034865 or contact Avon and Somerset Constabulary via its website.