A POLICE officer prevented a serious accident after stopping a lorry whose driver had fallen ill at the wheel.

The lorry was travelling north along the A12, at Mountnessing, when the driver, from Colchester, is believed to have had a stroke.

The vehicle was stopped after a police officer managed to run alongside and shout at the driver to stop.

The 45-year-old driver, who has not been named, was taken to Broomfield Hospital by paramedics.

He works for Silverton Aggregates, based in Kirby-le-Soken, and the firm’s Paul Kemp said the man was being treated at Queens Hospital, in Romford.

He said: “He is not very well, but it could have been a lot worse. He was very lucky the police were there and the officer was willing to do what he did to stop the lorry.

“Everyone’s thoughts are with the driver and his family.”

Traffic police were alerted to the incident, which happened just after 12.30pm on Thursday, by a motorist concerned the lorry was veering across the road.

A patrol car followed the lorry and signalled it to stop with their lights and sirens. But when the driver failed to respond, they overtook and saw the driver slumped at the wheel.

The lorry then went off the dual carriageway at Galleywood, travelled around the roundabout and began slowly moving down the slip-road to rejoin the A12.

Sergeant Stewart Gason got out of the police car and ran alongside the moving lorry, yelling at the driver to stop and throw his keys out.

Sgt Gason thanked the motorist who dialled 999 and said the lorry “could have caused a nasty crash which could have had tragic consequences”.

He said:“It was swerving across the carriageway and travelling at random speeds so it’s a good thing we got there in time.”