A DRIVER narrowly avoided serious injury after crashing a suspected stolen car during a police chase.

A white BMW crashed in High Road, Laindon, before the driver attempted to flea the scene.

Police had earlier tried to stop the car but were not able to.

An eyewitness, who spoke to the Echo on the condition of anonymity, watched the chase unfold yesterday morning.

The 32-year-old, from Laindon, said: “We were waiting in the Lidl queue when I heard a massive screech near the roundabout followed by a massive bang.

“I assumed it had been a bad accident, so I left my family and ran to see if I could help.

“I saw a white BMW across the central reservation of the roundabout exit, with its front tyres all smashed in from where the driver had lost control and hit the curb at speed.

“The police arrived and a man jumped out of the vehicle. He ran down to the traffic light crossing and into the road, so another marked police car pulled in to block him.

“He then ran round the police car and onto the pavement, before a female officer from an unmarked pursuit car deployed her Taser. At this point the man obviously saw sense and gave up.”

Police have confirmed a man has been arrested and taken to hospital as a precaution.

He continued: “It wasn’t until I saw the effect it had on my kids and how scared they were that it hit me. It took me about ten minutes to settle them down, so we decided to scrap the shopping trip entirely and get them home.

“It’s bad enough all the death we’re facing at the moment. He potentially could have killed even more people including myself or my kids if he had came further.”

A spokesperson from Essex Police, said: “We attempted to stop a vehicle without success in Uppermayne, Basildon, at around 11.40am on Thursday.

“The vehicle was located following reports of a single vehicle collision at a roundabout near to High Road, Laindon.

“We arrested the driver on suspicion of theft of a vehicle and he has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks.”

who wished to remain anonymous, was left furious at how shaken his family were after hearing the crash and watching the chase unfold.