AN ELDERLY woman died and her husband was seriously injured following a road accident in Tenterden.

The woman was a passenger in a Toyota car which crashed on Woodchurch Road shortly before noon on Monday.

Police say no other vehicles were involved and it is not known whether icy conditions played any part in the smash. Paramedics resuscitated the woman at the scene and she was airlifted to the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford.

She died shortly after arriving at the accident and emergency department despite the airborne mercy dash.

Her husband sustained serious head injuries and had to be cut from the mangled wreckage by Kent Fire and Rescue. He too was airlifted to hospital, where his condition is said to be stable.

The couple has not been named, but it is thought they were from the Brighton area.

A spokesman for Kent Air Ambulance said: “Paramedics gave the woman passenger the kiss of life at the scene and she was taken to hospital but she died shortly after arriving.”

Woodchurch Road was closed for three hours while crash investigators worked at the scene trying to piece together exactly what happened.

Weald police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with any information is asked to telephone Insp John Gledhill at the Serious Crash Investigation Unit on 01622 600967.