ONE driver was killed and another was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition after a three-vehicle crash on the A120.

Police believe a white Ford Fiesta car travelling towards Colchester collided with a lorry which was travelling westbound towards Coggeshall.

After the lorry and car collided, a Transit flatbed truck, which was driving behind the Fiesta, also collided with the heavygoods vehicle which then overturned across the carriageway.

Sadly, the driver of the Fiesta, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Meanwhile, the driver of the flatbed van was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition.

The driver of the lorry and a passenger in the white Fiesta were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The emergency services were first called to the scene at Salmons Corner, near Coggeshall, at around 7am yesterday.

Police soon closed the road leading to major tailbacks of rush hour traffic.

A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue said: “One man was trapped inside his vehicle and crews worked to release him by 7.45am.

“Firefighters also reported that a significant amount of petrol had been spilt and used sand to absorb it.”

Essex Police said no arrests had been made and the Fiesta driver’s next of kin have been told of the tragedy.

The road remained closed between Marks Tey and Coggeshall throughout the day yesterday as accident investigators worked at the scene.

Traffic was diverted via alternative routes.

Heavy-lifting equipment was used to lift the lorry and highways workers were also called to resurface the road surface after the fuel spill across the carriageway.

Witnesses, or anyone who captured dash cam footage of the incident, are asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01245 240590 or email CollisionAppeal@essex.pnn.police.

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