The A127 has claimed another life following a horrific road smash.

A man, from the Southend area, died last night - close to the site of a double-fatal road crash last month.

Scene of the fatality - the busy A127 Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

The 28-year-old was travelling on the London-bound carriageway in Leigh when he lost control of his silver Vauxhall Vectra and struck a tree, half-a-mile from the Airbourne Close junction.

The car was left bent like a "banana" and embedded at a 45 degree angle on a grassy embankment following the crash at 9.30pm.

The road was closed until midnight following the tragedy.

Firefighters used heavy cutting equipment to free the trapped man by slicing off the car's roof and sides.

Paramedics treated the casualty at the scene before taking him to Southend Hospital, where he later died.

A firefighter, who did not want to be named, said: "The access to the crash was really difficult because the car was behind the tree. We couldn't get anywhere near it and we had to cut away branches just to get access to the car."

Anyone with information can call Rayleigh road policing unit on 01268 775533.

Published Wednesday, April 9, 2003

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