Woman hospitalised after crash which caused Colchester gridlock

Fire crews helped rescue a person who was trapped in their car after the crash in Cymbeline Way, Colchester, just after 3.30pm on Tuesday.

After an hour of work cutting her free, a woman was left with paramedics and then taken to Colchester Hospital.

An East of England Ambulance Service Trust spokesman said: “We sent four ambulances, an ambulance officer and a rapid response vehicle.

“Crews treated a female patient at the scene before transporting her to Colchester Hospital for further assessment.”

Police were forced to shut the road close to the junctions with Glen Avenue and Sheepen Road which caused major disruption throughout Colchester into the peak travel period.

Park and ride users reported long delays at the depot with buses unable to navigate the blocked roads.

The gridlock also caused huge problems with workers trying to leave Severalls Industrial Estate and make their way home.

Colchester Hospital patients also faced long delays with many reporting they were met with standstill traffic as soon as they attempted to leave the car park in Turner Road.

Other drivers were stuck in the delays caused by long-term roadworks at the Ipswich Road and Harwich Road roundabouts which have been ongoing for 14 months and are set to continue well into next year.

Last week, Essex County Council’s infrastructure boss said everyone had to rethink their transport methods, and the authority were working to retrofit infrastructure where mistakes had been made 20 years ago.

There was also disruption in Lexden Road on Tuesday morning.

A passerby reported a red van had mounted the pavement shortly after 8am close to Essex County Hospital.

The driver was being treated by paramedics having seemingly been taken ill.

An ambulance spokesman added: “We were called at 8.15am with reports of a collision in Lexden Road. We sent an ambulance, ambulance officer and two rapid response vehicles. One person was taken to Colchester Hospital for further care.”