AN elderly driver was rushed to hospital after a crash in a busy road which saw her cut free from a car by firefighters.
Police officers, the fire service, and the ambulance service were called to reports of a collision in Maldon Road, Colchester, at just after 1pm today.
Firefighters from Colchester and Witham fire stations spent about 40 minutes rescuing an elderly woman from a car using cutting equipment before handing over to an ambulance crew.
A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called by Essex Police to a road traffic collision in Maldon Road, Colchester, today at 1.08pm.
“Two crews, from Colchester and Witham, attended. They stabilised the car and used cutting equipment to rescue a woman by 1.48pm, leaving her in the care of the ambulance service.”
It is understood that no-one sustained serious injuries after the crash, but the driver was taken to Colchester Hospital as a precaution after two ambulance service vehicles arrived at the scene.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “One ambulance and one ambulance officer vehicle were called to Maldon Road, Colchester, this afternoon following reports of a road traffic collision.
“One woman was transported to Colchester Hospital for further assessment and care.”
A passer-by who came across the incident while walking home from a nearby shop told the Gazette the driver of the car involved in the incident was seen “talking but calm, but sounded distressed”.
A photo taken at the scene and sent to the Gazette shows a car on its side in Maldon Road near temporary traffic lights close to the Southway roundabout and the road taped off by Essex Police officers.
The road was closed for more than two hours which had a knock-on effect on drivers around the city centre, particularly on Southway heading towards Lexden Road.
Several bus services were also impacted, with Colchester bus operator First Essex diverting many of its routes via nearby Cambridge Road.
Essex Police confirmed Maldon Road re-opened at about 3.30pm after the vehicle was recovered.
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