A man in his 70s has died in a crash on what has been described as “dangerous” section of road outside an RAF base.

David John Rolfe, 75, from Mildenhall, was driving a blue Toyota which was involved in a collision with a red Peugeot and a white Mazda just before 8am yesterday in West Row Road, just outside Gate 11 of RAF Mildenhall.

The ambulance service attended, but Mr Rolfe was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Peugeot, a woman in her 40s, was trapped and extracted from the vehicle by the fire service. Last night she remained in West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds where she was being treated for back and chest injuries.

The female driver of the Mazda has been treated for shock.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said the man who died was not a serviceman from the American base, but a spokeswoman for RAF Mildenhall said the crash involved both US and British citizens.

The base spokeswoman said: “There was a tragic accident yesterday morning outside of RAF Mildenhall’s West Row Gate involving both US and British citizens. Our base’s first responders have assisted local police and fire department crews.”

Councillor Gerald Taylor-Balls, who represents West Row on Mildenhall Parish Council, said it was a straight road from Mildenhall to West Row, but there was a bit of a hill before you got to the gate.

“It is a dangerous road and a lot of traffic uses it,” he said.

He said there had been a number of accidents at that particular spot on the 60mph road, but no previous fatal crashes as far as he was aware.

Three ambulances were sent to the scene of yesterday’s crash as well as three fire engines.

A spokesman for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews arrived on scene at just after 8.15am and found that three vehicles were involved and two people were trapped.”

He added firefighters had cut two people free from the wreckage by 9am.

A volunteer doctor from the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service helped the ambulance service crews in treating the woman in her 40s who was taken to West Suffolk Hospital.

The road was closed while officers gathered information and the vehicles were recovered, re-opening at about 1.20pm.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident. Calls should be made to the Serious Collision Investigation Team on 101.