HEROIC drivers rushed across a dual carriageway to save a fellow motorist after a horror smash on the A127.

A Citroen Saxo ended up on its roof on the London-bound track after colliding with a lorry shortly before 9am yesterday.

Moments after the crash, which happened just before the junction for Billericay, drivers from a van and truck travelling on the opposite side of the road were seen jumping over the barrier to pull a woman from the car.

Other motorists watchedas the rescuers went to work.

Leona Murray-Green, 41, of Long Lynderswood, Basildon, was driving along the Southend bound carriageway.

She said: “The van was half on the carriageway and half on the central reservation and the truck was in the other lane. They were helping a woman out of the car.

“There was a small gap between the van and truck and I just very slowly moved between the two vehicles.

“There was a van behind the crash, which had also pulled over. It wasbrave of them todo so but it was odd, I don’t know why they did it.”

The crash caused traffic chaos, with drivers stuck in jams for more than two hours.

Diesel from the lorry’s fuel tank had spilled on to the road, while the crash barrier was also damaged. Police took the decision to close the London-bound track from Nevendon towards Billericay and a diversion was put in place that sent traffic through Basildon and on to Cranes Farm Road and Upper Mayne, which led to congestion in the town.

Diane Jacobs, 44, was travelling from Rayleigh to work in Billericay.

She said: “It’s an absolute nightmare and it’s frustrating not really knowing what is happening. My boss has been really understanding, considering I have missed most of the morning. All I keep thinking is if I hadn’t stopped to talk to another mum at the school gates, I wouldn’t have been stuck in it.”

Motorist Andrew Steele, 56, from Leigh, said: “I was meant to be in London for a meeting, butIhave missed it. It’s obviously a huge inconvenience, but these things can’t be helped and I’m more worried about whether anyone was seriously hurt. To be honest, you learn to accept these kind of things with the A127.”

Paramedics took one man to Basildon Hospital, although his injuries were not believed to be serious.

The emergency services could provide no details about the woman pulledfrom the car.

The road was fully reopened at 12.15pm.