A man was critically injured this morning in a car crash in Santa Venera, the police said.

The accident happened on the Regional Road just outside the tunnels on the way towards Tal-Qroqq at around 3.30am.

The man, aged 22 from Naxxar, lost control of the Mazda Demio he was driving and crashed into the side wall and other road structures.

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Magistrate Noel Bartolo is leading an inquiry.