Colchester A12 crash causes chaos for rush hour drivers

The drama began when the A12 southbound was partially blocked after Junction 30 at Stratford St Mary at 6.45am this morning due to a broken-down crane.

Police were called to the scene, with the vehicle requiring specialist equipment to recover it.

The issue caused delays for drivers passing through.

Delays - traffic on the A12 (Image: Claudia Bradley) Just over half an hour later all lanes on the northbound side were closed after a four-vehicle crash at 7.35am near to Junction 30, between Gunhill and Stratford St Mary.

All emergency services were tasked to the scene, with firefighters having to cut the roof off one of the vehicles involved.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "When crews arrived, one person was trapped in their vehicle. Firefighters worked to remove the roof of the vehicle and rescue the casualty by 9.08am."

Suffolk Police help to deal with the northbound incident while Essex Police were tasked with clearing the crane on the southbound side.

Traffic - queues backed up to J28 (Image: Claudia Bradley) Traffic was backed up for miles following the incidents, with delays on both sides for more than forty minutes.

There were reports of queues lasting five miles and congestion backed up from Junction 30 to Junction 27 at the Avenue of Remembrance roundabout. 

Some commuters remained stuck in the traffic for two hours.

The East of England Ambulance Service later confirmed two people were taken to hospital. 

A spokesman said: “We were called just before 7.15am to a road traffic collision on the northbound A12 near Dedham.

"Two ambulances and an ambulance officer vehicle were sent to the scene.

"Two patients were transported to Colchester General Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”