A MOTORIST has died after his car crashed into a lamppost.

Police were called after a black Volkswagen Passat hit a lamp-post in Brinkley Grove Road, High Woods, Colchester, knocking it across the road at 1.20pm yesterday.

Ambulance crews were also called to the scene, but had to wait for firefighters to help them reach the man.

Firefighters from Colchester fire station’s blue watch helped paramedics free the male driver and then helped carry him to the ambulance for treatment.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “When crews arrived the patient was in cardiac arrest.

“Full resuscitation protocol was carried out and the man was taken to Colchester General Hospital.”

He was later certified dead.

The man, who was aged 58 and from Colchester, has not yet been formally identified.

Police immediately cordoned off the road while emergency services dealt with the casualty.

The road remained shut until almost 5pm while officers waited for officials to repair the damaged lamp-post.

Anyone who witnessed the accident, or the moments leading up to it, is asked to call officers at Stanway traffic police on 01206 762512.