Motorists on the A127 faced traffic chaos today after an electricity pylon was hit by a car and sent crashing down onto the road.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after the car smashed into an electricity pylon and brought 11,000 volt power lines down onto the busy road.

The entire Southend-bound carriageway of the A127 between the Sadlers Farm turn-off and Rayleigh was shut to traffic after the crash at 3.15am today as police, fire crews and electricity engineers battled to make the area safe.

It caused massive delays and tailbacks for rush-hour traffic eastbound this morning - and the queues had a knock-on effect on west-bound traffic as congestion built up at the roundabout junction with the A130.

Published Friday August 16, 2002

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