By Shaun Milne & Amanda MacMillan
UPDATE: A NEW born baby girl has died and her mother left seriously hurt in hospital after a horrific car accident on her way to give birth to the child.
The heavily pregnant woman and what was thought to be her partner were on their way to have the baby induced when the accident happened.
They were left trapped and badly injured when they southbound Honda Civic was involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Golf half a mile north of Hawick.
Three ambulances, two fire and rescue crews and police were scrambled to the scene at 8.22am after witnesses reported smoke coming from one of the cars following the accident on the A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle Road.
The mum to be was freed from the car by fire-fighters using hydraulic cutting equipment and raced to Borders General Hospital in Melrose.
She gave birth to a baby girl at hospital, but the girl did not survive the trauma and died soon after.
Her mother, who suffered serious head and chest injuries, was later transferred to the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.
Collision
Last night her condition remained “serious”.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “Tragically, the infant was not strong enough to survive the injuries sustained and there are still concerns with regards to her mother’s health.
“We are extremely eager to speak to anyone who can help us determine the full circumstances surrounding this collision and need the driver of the small red car to come forward at once.
“If you were on the A7 around 8.25am, drive a vehicle matching this description and believe you may have information that can assist with our enquiries, we would ask that you contact police immediately.”
The man freed by fire-fighters was earlier also taken to Borders General and treated for what police called a “serious” leg injury.
A third woman, who had been driving the Volkswagen southbound, was rescued by fire crews but suffered only “minor” injuries, according to police. She was also transferred to Borders General to be assessed.
Freed
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service who sent a full-time and retained crew from Hawick to deal with the emergency, confirmed they had to free all three casualties at the scene.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said they had three separate crews at the scene and all had attended at hospital.
They confirmed they were told to expect smoke coming from at least one car and a number of trapped casualties.
Lothian and Borders Police said the road had been closed while investigators tried to establish how the collision had happened.
A spokesman said: “We are still in the process of piecing together the circumstances surrounding this collision, which has resulted in some serious injuries to those involved.
“We would urge any motorists who were on the road and can assist with our enquiries to come forward.
“We are particularly keen to speak to the driver of a small red car, which was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the collision.
“The driver of this vehicle is asked to contact police as soon as possible.”
They appealed for witnesses to contact them on 0131 311 3131.
