5:12pm Saturday 28th August 2010
By John Geoghegan
A MAN died after being taken ill at the wheel and crashing into a lamp post.
The driver, aged 70, is believed to have suffered a heart attack as he drove along Ashingdon Road, Rochford, about 12.40pm today.
His maroon Toyota Hilux struck a blue Ford Fiesta then careered off the road and smashed into a telegraph pole, a lamp post and a tree.
Essex Air Ambulance were called to the scene, opposite Sapwood DIY store and near the junction with Holt Farm Way.
Despite their best efforts, paramedics could not revive the man, who was from Hockley.
Firefighters from Rochford and Southend stations were called to make the scene safe while police closed the road for more than four hours.
Laurie Phillipson, a paramedic at the scene, said: "Emergency care practioner Chris Parker arrived within moments and found the driver in cardiac arrest.
"Further resources arrived to support him but, despite the hard work of all of the teams, the patient was pronounced deceased after 30 minutes of advanced life support."
No-one else was injured in the crash although a woman passenger in the Fiesta, which was being driven by a 61-year-old Basildon man, suffered shock.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident. Anyone who saw the crash or the Toyota beforehand is asked to call PC Gavin Freeman at Rayleigh road policing unit on 0300 3334444.
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