KEY roads across west Suffolk ground to a halt yesterday after an horrific crash in which a van driver died.

East Anglia’s air ambulance was sent to the scene of the crash on the A14, near Higham, shortly before 10am after the driver, who was in his 40s, was thought to have suffered a heart attack.

Firefighters were also called to help free the driver who was trapped in his vehicle.

The driver, who was not from the west Suffolk area, died at the scene of the crash.

He became the seventh person to die on the county’s roads so far this year.

A police spokeswoman said it remained unclear whether he suffered cardiac arrest before or after the crash. A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out.

Officers blocked the west-bound carriageway of the road between Westley and Saxham and put diversions in place on the slip roads.

In total four fire engines – three from Bury and one from Newmarket – were sent to the scene.

Firecrews described the van driver as “heavily trapped” within his vehicle.

As well as lengthy delays on the A14 itself, major queues were also reported on surrounding roads including the A1101 between Mildenhall and Bury.

One of those caught up in the gridlock was John Barker who said: “There has been a major knock-on effect for those using the A1101.

“We were moving at about three or four miles an hour and the queue was as far back as Lackford. People were hearing about the accident and then using side roads which meant the traffic built up.”

Suffolk Police are appealing for any witnesses to the crash to call the serious collision investigation team on 01473 613500.