A TEENAGER has been arrested following an A38 car crash in which five young men from the Wellington area were injured in the early hours of Saturday (July 19).

Two of the passengers were left with potentially life-changing injuries from the crash, which happened at about 3 am at the junction with the Broad Path road to Uffculme.

The three others, including the driver, were less seriously injured.

All were aged 17 years and were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in Exeter.

Police said they arrested the driver, who was from ‘the Tiverton area’, on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, and driving while unfit through drink.

The youth was later released on bail while Devon and Cornwall Police (DCP) officers continued with their inquiries into the incident.

He had been driving a black Peugeot car which was in a collision with a white Peugeot van which had been left parked in a lay-by at the roadside and was unoccupied.

The Peugeot car overturned onto its roof and passers-by helped pull some of the youths out of the wreckage.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) sent five double-crewed land ambulances to the scene, an operations officer, and a hazardous area response team.

A SWAST spokesperson said: “We conveyed five patients by land ambulances to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.”

Two fire engines from Tiverton and Cullompton were also mobilised and a Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “On arrival, all occupants were free and clear of the vehicles and crews assisted ambulance and police in administering first aid.

“Crews ensured the scene was safe and used an environmental pack to deal with a small oil and petrol spill.”

The road was closed in both directions all morning on Saturday while police forensic collision investigators examined the scene and was eventually reopened under temporary traffic lights at about 1 pm.

Police said an investigation into the serious road traffic collision was underway and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

A DCP spokesperson said: “Our roads policing unit would like to thank the public for their assistance at the scene and for their patience while the road closures were in place.

“The road was reopened at around 1.10 pm.

“If you witnessed the incident or have any information or dashcam footage that could help with inquiries, please contact us via our website or by calling 101 and quoting log number 137 of 19/07/25.”