Driver escapes serious injury after crash in Berechurch Road

Connor O’Driscoll was involved in a collision with another car in Berechurch Road, Colchester, at around 7.25pm on Thursday.

The crash left his vehicle, an Audi A4, a complete write-off but somehow he was left with only moderate injuries.

Mr O'Driscoll said the other vehicle skidded 15m before hitting

his Audi, leaving it 13m further down the road after the crash.

Mr O’Driscoll, who is a self-employed hod carrier, said: “It was very scary. I wasn’t seriously hurt but I will have to miss more than a week of work meaning I will lose around £1,100.

“At first I felt so lucky to have got out of it with no real injuries, I felt extremely grateful.

“Some of the witnesses were in tears because they thought the accident was so bad.”

Following the collision Mr O’Driscoll, of Leavenheath, and the driver of a Vauxhall Insignia were rushed to hospital by the East of England Ambulance Service.

Mr O’Driscoll was in A&E at Colchester Hospital until 2am on the evening of the crash.

He said: “Straight after the crash I got out of the car and I was walking around.

“After quarter of an hour things started hurting and it got to a point where I could not move. Now I cannot move my head or left shoulder and arm properly.”

Campaigners have been calling for traffic calming measures in Berechurch Road since February.

The road is an accident blackspot, with the collision on Thursday the latest in the long line of serious crashes.

A 240 signature a petition was delivered to Essex Highways calling for road safety measures earlier this year.

READ MORE: ‘Council knew of speeding on Berechurch Road’

And Mr O’Driscoll said there was a speeding issue in the road and it was a matter of time before someone was seriously hurt.

He said: “There were four children and two families who were walking past the junction when the crash happened. They could easily have been hit.”

Colchester Local Highway Panel will undertake speed surveys in the road soon.