By James Johnson

Last updated at 08:52, Monday, 04 March 2013

Police have arrested a Carlisle man after an accident that left a 23-year-old rugby player with serious injuries.

The 34-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has been bailed until April 4.

The arrest came two weeks after a crash following a police appeal for information about the driver of a blue BMW car.

The crash - involving two vans - happened at 10.30am on Valentine’s Day on the A66 at Penruddock – five miles west of Rheged.

The arrested man is on bail pending further inquiries and a blue BMW has been seized.

The  collision resulted in Steven Higgins being airlifted to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Mr Higgins, who was a passenger in one of the vans, was on his way to a job with Northern Gas Networks.

Last week his distraught family spoke to the News & Star in the hope that someone might come forward with information about the crash.

Mr Higgins, who remains in a critical condition, plays as a fly half for Carlisle Rugby Football Club.

Police suspect a BMW was involved in the A66 incident, which also resulted in a 53-year-old van driver from Carlisle being taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle with non-life threatening injuries.

PC Lisa Teasdale said the police were still asking anyone with information about the crash to come forward.

She said: “We would like to thank members of the public who came forward with valuable information which led to the arrest.

“We believe there will be other people able to help us.

“We would urge them to come forward and speak to us with whatever information they can give.”

Contact Cumbria police on 101.

First published at 08:50, Monday, 04 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk