A diesel spill may have caused a crash which left a driver seriously ill in hospital.

Richard Webster, 59, of Broad Road, Bocking, was driving a Ford Fiesta which was in collision with a Renault lorry in Maldon Road, Tiptree, at 11.10am on Tuesday.

He suffered multiple fractures as a result of the collision but was yesterday said to be in a stable condition.

Mr Webster was trapped in the car for one-and-half-hours before being freed by fire crews. He was then airlifted to Colchester General Hospital.

Accident investigators believe the collision was probably caused as a result of a major diesel spill.

They found a half-mile long trail of diesel covering both lanes of the road.

And police officers are satisfied the fuel was on the road before the accident happened. A police spokesman said whoever was responsible was either unaware of the spillage or had not reported it.

The Fiesta Mr Webster was driving was new and he was delivering it on trade plates from Dovercourt Motors in Colchester. It was completely written-off in the collision.

The driver of the lorry, Ceri Harries, 27, of Selby Close, Colchester, was treated for shock.

Anyone with information on the collision or spill should ring Stanway police on 01206 762512

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.