A MAN was taken to hospital for treatment to a stab wound after paramedics discovered him injured in a car following a crash.

Police received a call from the East of England Ambulance Service to report it had been in a collision with another vehicle in Ipswich Road, Colchester, close to the Rovers Tye roundabout at approximately 7.15pm.

Soon afterwards, paramedics discovered a passenger in the car had been stabbed.

They treated him at the scene and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance was scrambled.

He was transferred to hospital for more treatment. His injury is not believed to be life-threatening.

But during the commotion, the driver of the car left the scene.

The vehicle was then discovered dumped in the Hythe.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “The paramedics established a man inside the vehicle had suffered a stab wound.

“He was taken to hospital for treatment and his injury is not life-threatening.

“The vehicle left the scene and was later found abandoned in The Hythe area a short time later.

“Our enquiries are ongoing.

“If anyone has any information about the incident please call us on 101 quoting incident 1139 of July 25 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Passersby said they had seen paramedics working on the victim for 20 minutes before he was taken to hospital.

Roads were shut last night between the Rovers Tye roundabout and the junction of Ipswich Road and Severalls Lane as the ambulance service tended to a casualty and police began an investigation.

The streets were fully reopened by the morning rush hour.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: ""An ambulance reported it had been in collision with another vehicle in Ipswich Road, Colchester, yesterday.

"The clinicians established a man inside the vehicle had suffered a stab wound and called for an air ambulance, taking the patient to hospital for further treatment."