Four people were injured in a head-on collision.
Firefighters had to cut a man free from his wrecked car and a woman was airlifted to hospital.
The crash happened in Mersea Road, Peldon, near the Peldon Rose pub, at about 2.45pm on Saturday.
It involved a blue Mazda MX5 and a black Volvo V40.
Three crews were sent out from Colchester Fire Station, and they had to use specialist cutting equipment to release the trapped driver of the Mazda.
The man, in his 50s, was taken to Colchester General Hospital in an ambulance.
Firefighters also freed a woman, who was in her 30s, from the Volvo.
She was flown to hospital by Essex Air Ambulance.
A man and a nine-year-old boy, who had been travelling with her, needed medical treatment.
All the injuries were described as whiplash-related and none were thought to be serious.
- Witnesses should call PC Jon Haslip at Stanway traffic police on 01206 762512.
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