TWO people have been killed and six others injured, some critically, after an horrific head-on crash in Suffolk.

Russell Claydon

TWO people have been killed and six others injured, some critically, after an horrific head-on crash in Suffolk.

The accident involving two cars, believed to be travelling in opposite directions, happened on the A1101 near to Icklingham, outside Bury St Edmunds, at around 7.20pm on Saturday night.

It emerged today that the two men who died in the crash were both in their 20s and stationed at RAF Lakenheath.

The accident involved a green BMW car and a blue Nissan Primera.

The two men in the BMW were pronounced dead at the scene and two others are in hospital in a critical condition.

A woman passenger in the Nissan has life threatening head injuries. The driver of the Nissan has multiple injuries and is in a critical but stable condition. Both women are being treated by staff at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

A man who was sitting in the back of the Nissan is also in a critical but stable condition with multiple injuries and is currently under observation at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury. A two-year-old boy who was also in the back of the Nissan suffered minor injuries.

A spokesman for the base said the airmens' identity would be withheld until their families had been told of the tragedy. He said the cause of the accident - in which two further airmen were injured - was currently under investigation.

As well as the police and ambulance crews, 15 firefighters attended the scene and used recently acquired upgraded cutting equipment to swiftly help remove the three trapped passengers from one of the vehicles.

Ali Moseley, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service district manager for St Edmundsbury, said: “It is not pleasant to see that carnage but everyone worked together to make the right decisions quickly and it has probably saved lives.”

Inspector Trevor Sharman, of Suffolk police, also speaking from the scene, said: “We had two vehicles involved in a serious road crash.

“Unfortunately, two persons have lost their lives and a further six have received injuries, some of which are believed to be serious.

“A green BMW appeared to be travelling from the Bury St Edmunds direction and a Nissan Primera appeared to be travelling from the Mildenhall direction.

“It was necessary to close the road down and diversions were put in place.”

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police urged anybody who saw the crash to come forward.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call Pc Jason Lambourne at Suffolk Police on 01473 613500.