SHOCKED residents have described hearing an "almighty smash" after a three-vehicle collision left a van on its side, three people in hospital and a man arrested on suspicion of drug driving.
Emergency services rushed to London Road, near the zebra crossing by Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, at around 2.40pm on Tuesday following the crash involving a dropside van and two other vehicles.
The impact was so severe that one van overturned and a lamppost beside the crossing was folded over, while debris was strewn across the road.
Essex Police said a man in his 30s, from Wickford, was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs. Three people were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
One casualty was seen being taken from the scene on a stretcher as ambulances treated those involved.
Residents reported hearing screeching tyres followed by a loud bang from streets away.
Leanne Schito had been taking her daughter to a nearby orthodontist appointment when she came across the aftermath.
"I've lived in Wickford for 20 years and never seen anything like this," she said.
People working nearby said the force of the impact brought them out of their offices, while residents gathered outside their homes to see what had happened.
Several witnesses also reported seeing an argument involving one of the drivers in the aftermath of the collision.
The crash forced the closure of London Road for several hours as emergency services worked at the scene and recovery crews removed the heavily damaged vehicles.
The closure caused lengthy delays throughout the area, with traffic diverted onto surrounding residential roads.
Resident Brenda said frustration grew as motorists attempted to navigate the diversions.
"It's really noisy down here now and people are getting really angry," she said. "There are normally parked cars down all the side roads too."
The road remained shut into the evening, with some drivers reportedly attempting to bypass the closure by using the church car park.
Police enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
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