A WOMAN had to be cut free from her car following a four vehicle crash on a town centre flyover.

Emergency services were called in at 1.54pm today to the Army and Navy flyover in Chelmsford after the crash was reported.

Because the crash happened on the flyover itself, fire crews had to use the aerial ladder platform to rescue a trapped elderly woman from the road beneath.

Crews used two sets of cutting gear to free the woman, who has taken to hospital by ambulance.

The work of the firefighters involved in the rescue was tonight praised by Assistant Divisional Officer Mark Turnbull.

He said: “Crews did an excellent job at this incident. The collision had happened in a difficult place on the flyover which added a great deal of technical complexity to the extrication.

“Firefighters had to asses how safe it was to work on the flyover and that is what led to us using the ALP to get the equipment to the crews.

“Firefighters had to work in extremely restrictive conditions within the barriers of the flyover and despite these difficulties crews professionalism led to the woman being released safely and quickly.”

The extent of the woman’s injuries and her current condition are currently unknown.