A soldier had to be cut from his car with serious injuries after it smashed into a road sign.

Accident scene - the damage caused to a road sign after today's crash. Picture: SEANA HUGHES

The 22-year-old was driving the Ford Focus car along the A12 slip road towards the Spring Lane roundabout in Colchester when it lost control and left the road

He suffered serious leg fractures in the crash, which knocked the large "reduce speed now" sign out of the ground and wrecked the car.

The road was closed to rush-hour traffic for about an hour and a half for the safety of emergency services working on the clear-up operation.

Station officer Pete Holding, of Colchester fire station, was among rescuers called to the scene of the one-car crash at about 7.50am today.

He said the car's engine had come out on impact, fuel was pouring onto the ground and the driver was badly injured but conscious.

The driver was taken to Colchester General Hospital for treatment.

Information on the accident to PC Dean Finn on 01206 762512

Published Thursday March 4, 2004

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