Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious injury road traffic collision on the A379 at Dawlish.

At approximately 7pm on Wednesday a three vehicle serious injury road traffic collision occurred on the A379 Teignmouth Road, at Dawlish outside of The Smugglers Inn.

An unidentified vehicle was stationary, waiting to turn right into the Smugglers Inn and a silver coloured Daewoo Matiz was waiting behind this vehicle.

The Daewoo Matiz was then struck from behind by a Renault Master flatbed vehicle which caused the Matiz to travel a considerable distance uphill by its own momentum.

The driver of the Renault Master flatbed received minor injuries, but the driver of the Matiz, a woman, aged in her 60’s who lives in Bovey Tracy received serious life threatening head injuries.

She was airlifted to Derriford hospital where she remains in a critical condition.

The road was closed for five hours.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the collision, and in particular to the driver of the vehicle which had stopped waiting to turn right into the pub.

Anyone with any information are asked to contact police on 101 quoting police reference 630 040614.