A driver and passenger escaped with minor injuries after their van somersaulted down the A12.

Crash scene - a medic said: "how the men got out, I do not know". Picture: ESSEX AMBULANCE SERVICE.

Long tailbacks built up after the accident on the Ipswich-bound carriageway, just past the Kelvedon south junction, at 9.15am yesterday.

An ambulance service spokesman said the two builders had a remarkable escape considering the damage caused to the van.

Two ambulances and a paramedic were sent to the scene, where the outside lane was blocked while the van was recovered.

Emergency medical technician Karen Partridge said the van rolled several times as it went down the carriageway next to the central reservation.

"The crash barrier suffered some severe damage as did the van. It is indeed fortunate that the van did not flip over the central reservation as traffic was extremely heavy on the other carriageway.

"Somehow both the driver and passenger managed to get out of the vehicle - though how, I do not know."

The driver, a 43-year-old from Dagenham, had cuts to his face and cuts and bruises to his hands and shins. His passenger, who is 50 and also from Dagenham, had a shoulder injury. Both were taken to Colchester General Hospital for treatment.

More in today's Evening Gazette

Published Thursday, November 24, 2005

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette