A FAMILY “thought they were going to die” as a road rage driver repeatedly rammed his van into the back of their car.

Mike Long and his wife Caroline Clark-Long were driving along Colne Causeway, in Colchester, on Saturday evening, on their way to a restaurant.

He had his brother and sister-in-law, Gavin and Sue Miklaucich, in the car when they approached the roundabout near Haven Road.

But just before they reached the roundabout, the driver of a white Ford Transit flatbed van started revving his engine behind them.

The driver then rammed into the back of the family’s white Honda Jazz four times, knocking them off the road.

Mr Long, 57, from Langenhoe, said: “The guy behind us was revving his engine, he was really close to our bumper.

“About 50 yards down he slammed into the back of us and when that happened everyone in the car was shouting out - what is going on?

“He did it again, and again, and on the fourth time he pushed us off the road onto the pavement.”

Mr Long, who works in advertising, said the van had a cage on the back, and had a ‘Highway Maintenance’ sign.

He added: “My wife was driving, she and her sister thought we were going to die.

“It’s not every day you get put in that sort of position. This wasn’t an accident, it was a deliberate act.”

Once the van driver had pushed the Honda off the road he tore off quickly. It is believed he has been involved in a collision a few minutes before, in Greenstead Road.

Mr Long said: “It wasn’t a gentle nudge, it was a ram, so we called the police straight away.

“None of us had physical injuries but we were all very shaken up.

“About half a dozen other people stopped as they said they had seen a white transit at an accident in Greenstead Road.

“Police said they would not send a unit out as no one was injured, I explained that we had been rammed off the road and if this person wasn’t caught he was likely to kill someone.”

The family had been driving around to find a restaurant to visit and had just been to find somewhere in Dedham, before turning back towards their home.

Mr Long spoke to the Gazette because he wants to raise awareness of the driver.

Police said: "We assess every call based on threat, harm, risk and vulnerability and those incidents that pose the greatest threat, harm and risk to the public are prioritised. 

"As there were no reported injuries, or obstruction to the highway, officers did not attend, however investigations are still ongoing."