A DRIVER died and one passenger was injured in an horrific car crash in Cwmbran yesterday.

The 27-year-old man, who is not yet being named but is from the Pontypool area, died at the scene of the crash outside Cwmbran fire station in Henllys Way.

An eye witness told the Argus that the dead man's car was being followed by police, but officers say they were not in pursuit - they were in the area on another operation.

The accident happened at 5.50pm when a white Peugeot 205 convertible was in collision with a Vauxhall Cavalier which is understood to have been leaving the nearby Shell garage and a Renault van.

The Peugeot ended up next to large rocks outside the fire station, and the driver had to be cut free.

The man, believed to have been on his way back from a funeral, was given treatment at the side of the road by paramedics, but died at the scene.

A passenger in the Peugeot sustained minor injuries and was taken to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital. The driver of the other car was uninjured.

One eyewitness, a woman who did not want to be named, said: "I heard a huge bang, and saw the car go into the rocks. There were flames and sparks coming from the back end and I thought it was going to explode.

"The police were right behind him, and they stopped and surrounded the car. There were loads of them. They dragged the driver from the car. It was horrible. The paramedics were pumping his chest on the side of the road, but he wasn't moving."

Police say they were not in pursuit. They were in the area carrying out vehicle stop checks at the time of the accident.

Sergeant Stephen Keenan, based at Cwmbran, said: "They were there for another reason and this vehicle came into what was happening. An officer asked him to stop but he didn't. He sped away from the scene."

He said a helicopter had been at the scene and filmed the aftermath of the incident. Sergeant Keenan added: "There were so many vehicles involved that we just wanted film of the scene."

Inspector Geoff Evans, based at police headquarters in Croesyceilog, said the Police Complaints Authority had been informed of the incident.

He said it was referred to the PCA "to define what is a police pursuit." But he added: "Certainly in these circumstances there was no police pusuit. It's best to inform them (PCA) so the facts are certain."

Police closed Henllys Way in both directions soon after the accident. Twelve police officers attended the scene, including a specialist accident investigator. The road was eventually re-opened just after 10pm last night.

Police are asking witnesses to the crash to contact Cwmbran police station on 01633 838999.

PICTURED: The car is removed from Henllys Way, Cwmbran.