An elderly taxi passenger was fighting for her life last night after her cab ploughed into a lamppost.

The 71-year-old pensioner, a front seat passenger, was listed in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The woman, from Khyber Pass in Warwick, suffered extensive head and body injuries in the early morning crash on Middle Road near her home yesterday.

Her husband, 75, also in the taxi, suffered only minor injuries and was treated in hospital for cuts and bruises.

It is not believed the taxi driver was hurt in the crash, near the junction with Keith Hall Road.

A hospital spokeswoman said: "The woman is in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit.'' Firefighters cleaned up a large oil spill after the crash at 5.46 a.m.

Police said it was not clear if any other vehicles were involved in the smash.

A Police spokesman said: "The taxi was travelling west on Middle Road when it swerved to the near side, struck a pole and then spun around.

"The front seat passenger was seriously injured and went straight into ICU.

"Her husband was also in the taxi and suffered scratches and abrasions. He has also been detained in hospital.'' The crash came just over three hours after another accident left a Somerset man blacked out and trapped inside his overturned car on Scaur Hill.

The 26-year-old had to be cut free by a team of 13 firefighters after he lost control of his white Maruti Alto car, driving out of Somerset.

Police said the car flipped over after mounting a grass verge near Morgan's Hill.

The car was wrecked but the driver escaped serious injury and was discharged from a general ward around lunchtime.

A Police spokesman said: "The crash was nevertheless very serious and the driver was unconscious at the scene.'' A Fire Service spokesman said two crews responded to the crash at 2.26 a.m. -- one from Port Royal and a rescue unit from Hamilton.

He added: "The driver was removed from the vehicle at 2.56 a.m and then transported straight to hospital.''