Rush-hour motorists faced long delays this morning after a section of the A127 Southend-bound had to be closed off so firefighters could free a woman trapped in her car.

Rescue - firefighters work to free the woman driver from her wrecked car Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Crews from four engines attended the accident at 7.30am near the Basildon flyover, between Billericay and the A130 Canvey turn-off.

Officers worked quickly to get the Basildon woman, who suffered suspected neck injuries, out of the vehicle after it was involved in a collision with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

An ambulance was also called to the scene and the driver was examined by paramedics.

She was fitted with a neck brace before being taken to Basildon Hospital, suffereing suspected spinal injuries.

Eyewitness Rachel Allen, 23, said: "A blue Jeep has gone into a lamp post and there is a white Mercedes involved which has just had the roof cut off by firefighters."

The second driver in the crash, also from Basildon, was unhurt.

Published Monday January 19, 2004

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