A DRIVER and passenger have been rushed to hospital after a HGV and a camper van collided in Langenhoe.

Mersea Road, which connects Colchester to Mersea Island, has been closed as emergency crews continue to work at the scene.

Four fire crews, several ambulances and the air ambulance were called to the collision point near School Lane.

An Essex County Fire and Rescue spokesman said “A heavy goods vehicle and a van were in collision and two people were trapped” at 2.15pm.

Gazette: Emergency - 999 crews at the sceneEmergency - 999 crews at the scene (Image: Martyn Warnes)

“Firefighters used specialist equipment to free the casualties. They were left in the care of the Ambulance Service at 3.13pm,” he added.

Essex Police has stated the vehicles involved in the collision were a HGV and a Volkswagen camper van.

The driver and passenger of the camper van have been taken to hospital.

A spokesman said police officers are working relieve the traffic “as quickly as possible” while Mersea Road is shut.

He added: “We are looking to speak with the driver of a dark-coloured Jaguar, which we believe was in the area around the time of the collision.

Gazette: Landed - an air ambulance has landed at the scene Landed - an air ambulance has landed at the scene (Image: Martyn Warnes)

“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.”

Fire crews from West Mersea, Colchester, Brightlingsea and the brigade’s Urban Search and Rescue Team were sent to the incident.

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Nearby resident Martyn Warnes said he was working from home and he heard a helicopter above.

"It seemed to be getting louder and closer," he said.

"There are quite a few emergency vehicles and while I was there more were arriving.

"It [the road] was closed by virtue of all the vehicles being there. As I left there was a police car arriving."

Any report to the police should cite incident 663 of March 13.