February 13, 2001 9:20: A HIGH-SPEED chase through High Wycombe ended after a car careered off the road and ploughed into trees leaving the driver with serious head and back injuries.

Traffic police officers began to pursue a red Ford Sierra after the driver refused to pull over in Seer Green, near Beaconsfield, late on Saturday night.

The Sierra was followed at high speed along the A404 Amersham Road and through Hazlemere before the driver lost control of the vehicle by the former Equity and Law site at around 12.25am.

PC Andy Wayland, who was involved in the pursuit, said police were still investigating why the 21-year-old male driver refused to stop.

He explained: "The driver was followed from Seer Green by a traffic car and an unmarked police vehicle after he refused to stop. The driver involved was very seriously injured and had to be cut free from his vehicle by firefighters."

Police are keen to trace the driver of a vehicle which the red Sierra overtook just moments before it careered off the road.

A stretch of the A404 was closed to traffic for about three-and-a-half hours after the incident because police sealed off the area.

The driver remains in Wycombe Hospital in a serious condition.

Police have also appealed for the return of a set of flashing blue lights which were left at the scene to warn approaching motorists. The lights were taken at some point during the night.

Anyone with information about the accident should call Sgt Appleby at Milton Keynes Traffic Base on (01908) 686301 or call Amersham Traffic on (01494) 736723.