A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital after his car crashed with a bus at the weekend.

His dark blue-grey VW Polo and a W11 bus hit each other head-on outside Walthamstow Stadium in Chingford Road just after 8am on Saturday (October 6).

Initial reports suggested there had not been any serious injuries but it has now emerged that the 27-year-old car driver, named by relatives as Sam Radley, suffered major head injuries.

He was rushed to the Royal London Hospital in an air ambulance and has been in a coma ever since.

It has also emerged that Mr Radley, who lives in the Chingford Mount area with his girlfriend, is a cousin of Tommy Overton, the 18-year-old who was stabbed to death in Beaumont Road, Leyton, in August.

Mr Radley's grandfather, 68-year-old Brian Williams, said: "It's a very difficult time for the family.

"He suffered two punctured lungs, broken ribs and possible brain damage, so it is very serious.

"At first there were worries he had no chance of surviving but he's been responding to us and moving his fingers. He's getting a bit better by the day so we're hopeful."

He added: "I've already seen one of my grandsons buried recently. It's a very upsetting time."

Chingford Road was closed for three hours between the Crooked Billet roundabout and Walthamstow Avenue following the collision while police investigated.

A spokesman for Waltham Forest Police said there had not been any other reports of serious injuries in the crash.

He added: "Officers from Chadwell Heath Traffic Garage are investigating".

A spokeswoman later told the Guardian: "Checks on the victim are being done and as at 9.30am this morning he was still in hospital in a stable condition."

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with Tommy Overton's murder. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

Police said Tommy was stabbed after a fight which broke out at a house party.

Friends recently paid tribute to him as a "cheerful and bubbly" teenager.