INVESTIGATIONS into a crash which left two Lowestoft police officers seriously injured were continuing this week.The Lowestoft-based special constables remained in a stable condition yesterday as they recovered at the James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, following the early morning crash on Saturday.

INVESTIGATIONS into a crash which left two Lowestoft police officers seriously injured were continuing this week.

The Lowestoft-based special constables remained in a stable condition yesterday as they recovered at the James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, following the early morning crash on Saturday.

A marked police car was in collision with a Mitsubishi Evolution on the south Lowestoft relief road, leaving saplings damaged and broken glass strewn across the grass

The driver of the police car is believed to have suffered a broken leg.

His colleague - who would have taken the full force of the impact of the crash in the passenger's seat - is being treated for a fractured pelvis and a broken arm.

A marked police van had initially been following a silver Mitsubishi Evolution, which had failed to stop for officers on Belvedere Road.

Officers then lost sight of the Mitsubishi and when it was spotted again, it was found to have been in collision with the marked police car at around 1.45am.

Smoke was seen billowing from the wreckage as four fire crews from Normanshurst and Clifton Road stations battled to free the trapped officers and the two other men who were also stuck inside the Mitsubishi.

The firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to take the roofs off both vehicles to enable them to free them and the driver and passenger of the Mitsubishi were later released from hospital after receiving treatment for minor injures.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said a 28-year-old man from the Great Yarmouth area had been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop for police and drink-driving, and was bailed to return to Lowestoft police station on March 7.

The road was closed for more than seven hours following the crash while officers from the serious collision investigation team examined the scene, before being reopened at about 9am.

A police spokesman confirmed the case had now been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as a matter of routine.

Anyone with information about the crash should call PC Gary Buss at Suffolk police on 01473 613500.