The Pontefract fire engine had been on its way to attend an earlier crash on South Baileygate, when it was in collision with a Mitsubishi Shogun car at about 11.50am on Wednesday January 27.

An air ambulance landed in nearby supermarket Aldi to airlift the driver, a 45-year-old Featherstone man, to hospital, where he is currently in a stable condition.

The crash happened as the fire engine was on its way to help out at an earlier crash where a woman was trapped in her car.

The woman was the driver of a Kia Picanto, which was in collision with a Citroen Berlingo van at about 11.35am, at the road's junction with Baghill Lane.

Knottingley fire crews cut the roof off the Kia and freed the woman who was also taken to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield. Her condition is not known.

Roads were closed around the scene for several hours, causing traffic chaos, as police recovered the vehicles.

The fire service has now launched an investigation into the crash involving the fire engine, which was using blue lights and sirens at the time.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "The fire crew from Pontefract was en route to a road traffic accident, where a woman was trapped, when the collision occurred.

"Despite suffering from shock themselves, the crew acted immediately to help and administered first aid until the paramedics arrived.

"All our drivers have extensive training under blue light conditions, with the safety of road users being a key consideration.

"We will launch an internal investigation into this particular incident and wish the casualty a speedy recovery."

Witnesses or anyone with information about the incidents should contact Wakefield roads policing team via 0845 6060606.