A NEW College student suffered serious injuries when she was involved in a car crash in which the driver was killed in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The 17-year-old, named locally as Emily Rodriguez-Martin, was one of four passengers in a silver Renault Clio which was travelling along the Grand Avenue in Savernake Forest, Marlborough, when the driver apparently lost control and hit a tree shortly before 5.40am.

The driver, 21-year-old Max Pearson from Marlborough, sustained major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

South Western Ambulance Service was called at 5.39pm and at the time there was an ambulance in Marlborough High Street which was able to get to the scene within five minutes.

Emily, who lives in Axford, was stabilised at the scene and taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with a fractured skull and a chest injury. Her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Friends have praised the two boys who helped get Emily out of the car before calling an ambulance.

Coco Leigh wrote on Facebook: “Big up Louie bear the hero for calling the ambulance and him n ****** helping em out of the car!”

Two senior doctors from SWIFT Medics were also called by the ambulance service to assist with the treatment of the patients.

Swift Medic Jonathan Glover said: “We were called because of the seriousness nature of the injuries and the number of people involved and because at the time of the call it was thought that the passengers were trapped.

“The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and the passenger I treated had more serious injuries but the other three were thought not to have life-threatening or life changing injuries.

“My thoughts go out to the families of all those involved, especially at this time of the year.”

The other passengers, both former student of St John’s School, Marlborough, have been named by friends as Sam Parrington, 19, and Louis Lamb, 18, from Marlborough.

Mr Parrington, 19, who was in the front passenger seat, was taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with serious injuries. This afternoon he was said to be in a critical but stable condition.

A 15-year-old boy from Pewsey was also taken to John Radcliffe Hospital with serious injuries.

Mr Lamb suffered minor injuries and was taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

The car was travelling north towards Ramsbury from Marlborough. The road was closed for most of Sunday morning while the emergency services were on the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the incident should call PC Hall or Sergeant Barry Cardell on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, where information can be left anonymously.