12:00a.m. 21st May 2008

| Mike Garry and Amy Remeikis

A 33-year-old Coolum man was trapped in his Kombi van after an accident on the David Low Way at Marcoola. Photo: Mike Garry

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A Sunshine Coast man was in danger of losing one of his legs last night after a shocking head-on crash on the David Low Way late yesterday afternoon.

A Royal Brisbane Hospital spokesperson told thedaily.com.au this morning that the 33-year-old Coolum man was expected to be in theatre for much of the day and that, contrary to some media reports, his leg had not been amputated.

The spokesperson said he was in a serious but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit this afternoon.

The man was driving home in his Volkswagen Kombi when a Ford sedan carrying five people apparently crossed on to the wrong side of the road near the Town of Seaside roundabout.

The Kombi’s driver side took the brunt of the impact.

An horrific scene greeted emergency service workers.

The 73-year-old Ford driver, from Mudgee in New South Wales, was quickly freed by fire fighters, but the Coolum man remained trapped by his legs for almost an hour.

The driver’s side front end of the Kombi had crumpled around the man’s lower body in a mess of metal.

Peak hour traffic heading north from Maroochydore and south from Coolum was caught in a slow crawl for more than an hour.

Emergency services worked tirelessly to free the Kombi driver, and police closed the road to allow the Energex Community helicopter to land.

The moment the man was freed and stabilised for travel, he was flown to Royal Brisbane Hospital for emergency surgery.

It is believed he may have internal injuries as well as multiple compound fractures in his lower right leg.

He was in a serious condition last night.

The driver and one of the passengers of the Fairmont were taken to Nambour General Hospital with minor injuries.

It is unclear what caused the Ford to swerve into the wrong lane.

Police were expected to question the driver and his passengers once they had been cleared by the hospital.

Scenes of Crime and Forensic Crash Unit investigators were also called in to investigate.

It took more than two hours to clear the scene and traffic was blocked from the crash scene to Lorraine Avenue in Marcoola.

When the crash first occurred, northbound traffic was slowed almost as far as the David Low Way exit from the Sunshine Motorway.

Police have asked witnesses to call the Forensic Crash Unit on 5471 7596.

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