POLICE are trying to determine whether an unmarked police car’s blue lights were switched on at the time of a motorcycle crash near Ross-on-Wye yesterday.

A 26-year-old man from Ross was airlifted to hospital with serious head and back injuries after the motorbike he was driving was involved in a single vehicle collision.

The crash took place at around 4.15pm on the B4234 Walford Road near to Green Colley Grove, Walford.

Inspector Julian Smith said: “There was a police officer in an unmarked vehicle in the area at the time of this incident who was concerned by the driving of the motorcyclist. As such, we are carrying out an investigation in order to establish the exact circumstances leading up to the incident.

“We can confirm that he was not in formal pursuit of the motorbike at the time the incident happened.”

He added: “At some point, the police officer turned his blue lights on. The investigation aims to establish at what point this was. Was it before or after the collision occurred? If it was before the collision, was the motorcyclist aware of this?”

The motorcyclist is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital. The man’s next of kin has been informed.

The police officer and an off-duty paramedic, who was also in the area at the time, were able to provide first aid at the scene while they waited for the air ambulance to arrive.

Mr Smith added: “To help with our investigation we’re keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or has any other information that could help with our enquiries.”

As is standard procedure following such an incident, the crash has been referred to the force’s professional standards department and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Anyone who witness the incident or who has any other information that could help police with their enquiries is urged to call 101 and quote incident 525 of 10 July 2017.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by the police at 4.15pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a motorcyclist.

An ambulance, a paramedic officer and two Midlands Air Ambulances attended; one with a MERIT trauma doctor on board.

An ambulance spokesman said: "A man in his 20s, the motorcyclist, came off his motorcycle and had suffered multiple serious injuries.

"Ambulance staff and the doctor worked as a team to administer trauma care to the man which included pain relief, oxygen and a full body immobilisation.

"The man was then airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol for further care."

A spokesman for the IPCC said: "We have received a referral from West Mercia Police over this road traffic incident and are presently assessing it. We are not at this stage carrying out any investigation."

The road was closed until 12.40am.