A COMMUNITY came together to help the victims of a two- car crash.

The accident happened in Berechurch Hall Road, Colchester, leaving a number of people trapped.

Police said a red car pulled out of Wethersfield Road on to Berechurch Hall Road, causing a silver Renault Megane to swerve into a white Vauxhall Agila. The red car failed to stop at the scene.

Former carer Eloise Perry, and her husband Adam, heard the crash outside their home at about 6.50pm on Tuesday and rushed out to help.

They saw two elderly people in one of the cars, trying to escape.

Halstead Gazette:

Mrs Perry, 35, said: “A lady in a white car was trying to get out, the airbags had gone up.

“As soon as we got to the car we could smell burning and we decided we needed to get them out.

“The smell was getting stronger and it was coming from the engine.”

After making sure the elderly couple were out of the car they went to check on the driver and passengers in the other vehicle.

The couple believe the driver was a carer who had been carrying a number of vulnerable adults in the back.

Mrs Perry said: “They were all crying and panicking and the carer couldn’t get out of the car as the front door had been wedged in.

“We got him to climb through and my husband helped the people out the back.

“The carer was amazing, he made sure the adults were well looked after.”

Mrs Perry said it was a horrible experience.

She added: “A lady let everyone into her house after for a cup of tea, it was really nice to see everyone pull together.

“The fronts of the cars were demolished, it was horrendous and we were just trying to reassure them.

“It all happened so quickly and as soon as I saw there were vulnerable adults I knew that was where I needed to be.”

The two elderly people, believed to be in their 70s, were taken to Colchester General Hospital. The woman suffered chest injuries and remains in hospital for treatment.

After speaking to the elderly couple, Mrs Perry said they had been on their way to pick up their grandson.

She said the other people involved were lucky to have escaped. They are not believed to have been hurt.

The ambulance service was called just after 7pm on Tuesday.

A rapid response vehicle, ambulance officer and two ambulance crews were sent. Three other people sustained minor injuries.

Police are appealing for information and asking witnesses to call PC David Scott at Stanway Roads Policing Unit on 101, quoting incident 912 of 10/10.