A woman in her 50s has been arrested following a serious collision that left an ambulance overturned on its side, resulting in five people being taken to hospital. The incident occurred at the junction of the A13 and A130 in Bowers Gifford, Essex, around 1:20 pm on Friday afternoon.
Emergency Response
Emergency services rushed to the scene, with six ambulances, two paramedic cars, an air ambulance, and specialist collision investigation police units deployed. The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed the significant response to the crash involving an ambulance and at least one other vehicle.
An East Anglian Air Ambulance spokesperson stated that their Anglia Two crew from Cambridge was tasked to assist at the scene. The helicopter landed in a nearby field, and medical teams provided full assessments to multiple patients, including two women and a man in their forties, a woman in her fifties, and another man in his fifties who received advanced pain relief. One patient was accompanied to Basildon Hospital by road ambulance for further treatment.
Arrest and Investigation
The woman, from Canvey Island, Essex, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of failing to provide a sample of breath. She remains in custody as investigations continue. Essex Police have launched an appeal for information and witnesses to assist with enquiries.
Shocking images from the scene show the ambulance overturned on its side alongside a flat-bed truck and a large black four-by-four car in the middle of the carriageway. Surrounding traffic came to a near standstill, with drivers warned of delays in the area.
Police Appeal
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "An investigation is continuing into a crash involving three vehicles on the A13 near Pitsea. Officers were called to the Southend-bound carriageway at around 1:20 pm on Friday, April 24." They added: "A woman, aged in her 50s, from Canvey, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of failing to provide a sample of breath. She remains in custody. If anyone has any information or footage which could assist our enquiries, please get in touch."
Members of the public are urged to contact Essex Police via their 24/7 live chat service or by calling 101, quoting incident 603 of April 24.
