The motorist, a man aged in his 30s, crashed a car in Bents Basin Road in the late afternoon.

The vehicle left the road and plunged down a gully, hitting a tree.

Two passengers in the car were also injured.

The CareFlight team landed at the scene at about 6pm.

The driver, who sustained head, chest and abdominal injuries, was trapped for 40 minutes.

The CareFlight doctor treated him and the passengers, helped by ambulance paramedics and police officers.

The doctor then put the motorist in an induced coma before he was airlifted to Westmead Hospital.

His condition is described as criticial.

An ambulance rushed the two passengers to Liverpool Hospital.