A man has been arrested at the scene of a serious and potentially life-changing road traffic collision on the outskirts of Ryde.
As previously reported by Island Echo, a motorcyclist has been flown to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance as a result of a head-on crash with a BMW 1-series on Ashey Road.
Emergency services rushed to the collision at just gone 16:30, with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance scrambled due to the severity of the injuries sustained – understood to be head and leg injuries.
Island Echo can reveal that a male has been arrested as a result of offences being identified by attending officers. He has been taken into custody at Newport Police Station and is due to be questioned.
It is currently unclear exactly what the male has been arrested on suspicion of and whether it directly relates to the cause of the crash, but Hampshire Constabulary has been approached for a statement.

Collision investigators from the mainland are conducting an examination of the crash scene between East Ashey Lane and Brading Down Road. The road is expected to remain closed for several hours to allow a full investigation to take place and for the recovery of the vehicles involved.
Motorists should avoid the area, diverting via Havenstreet or Wootton.
The male casualty is currently being assessed and treated at Southampton General Hospital’s major trauma centre having been flown directly from the roadside by the air ambulance.
UPDATE @ 19:45 – The road has now re-opened in both directions.
UPDATE SUNDAY – Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed that a 36-year-old man from Newport has been arrested on suspicion of driving whilst over the prescribed limit of a controlled drug.
He has been released under investigation whilst drug analysis takes place.
Enquiries continue.

Wishing a full and speedy recovery for the injured person.
Hope the biker recovers his health and mobility quickly..
I hope people will recover well. I cannot imagine how ever party’s would feel. And personally unless u no details please don’t make bad comments
Way too many drive as fast as they can, for as long as they can. It isn’t cool in their eyes to drive normally now. Jail them for ten years to have time to think.
Hope the person who went to hospital will recover
Thinking of his family also
Hope biker makes a full recovery.
I’m assuming the arrest is to do with the var driving not supposed to be on the road. If the driver of the car was not supposed to be driving then they are 100% responsible in all cases, if they had not been on the road then accident would not have happened, what ever the real cause was. I don’t think people who drive illegally understand this.
Nearly wiped off my bike twice yesterday by people not paying attention. Pulling out in front of me without even looking. Scary times to be a motorcyclist with the standard of driving so low at the moment. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Cowes seems very bad for cars pulling out on you, its happening everywhere on the island, but the road passing the range shopping centre nr cowes is deadly, they pull out expecting you to stop??? going to be a messy summer if you add grockles, been riding 40yrs..including India, Dehli rush hr is safer to ride than here for sure.
Every car driver should have to take a motorbike test, or just an awareness test. I have taken both and passed both. At the end of the day its… Think once, think twice, THINK BIKE.
Bikers and boy (and girl) racers equally guilty of appalling driving. Convoys of loud cars and of even louder bikes (usually ridden by learners) tearing around without the slightest regard for the safety of themselves or others.
Lucky the Police are so active …
I thought we are still in LOCKDOWN…STAY HOME
I hope the injuries aren’t as bad as first thought and he has a speedy recovery and people will start to learn that driving fast isn’t ok on the small roads we have on the island. The island isn’t a race track I see far too many that think it is only a few days ago I was driving at the speed limit or maybe a couple of mph over it but not excessive and was over taken on a blind bend then the driver had to break so hard that the car nearly ended up of the road and they even tried to blame me for their stupidity
Ive heard..rider was all over the road from right back at hare and hounds ..overtaking ….dangerous .. using our island road as a playground……
Trust you will make a statement to the police to assist their investigation