Four men are wanted by police after they fled from a stolen car involved in a horror crash.

East Anglian Daily Times: Stolen blue Ford Focus involved in horror smash in Notley Road, Braintree, on Sunday March 22 2015Stolen blue Ford Focus involved in horror smash in Notley Road, Braintree, on Sunday March 22 2015 (Image: Archant)

The driver of the blue Ford Focus ST lost control on a bend in Notley Road, Braintree, at about 1.30pm yesterday.

He collided with two other vehicles, including a family of four who were in the first car which was hit at high speed.

The car had been stolen in Cressing around 90 minutes before the crash.

The driver and three passengers in the Focus fled the scene and despite a widespread search by police officers on the ground and the force helicopter they were not found.

Detective Constable Nick Campbell of Braintree CID said: “The Focus was driving at high speed when the crash happened.

“It lost control on a bend and snaked out of control for about 150 yards hitting two other cars before coming to rest near the entrance to John Ray Junior School.

“A couple and their two very young children had a miraculous escape when the Focus hit the side of their car. Thankfully they were all unharmed but very badly shaken, but we could easily have been looking at serious injuries or fatalities.

“The people in the stolen car were totally reckless and ran off with no regard to the innocent people in the other badly damaged cars.

“We need to find them and get them in custody before they can cause more harm on our roads. We are especially keen to hear from any members of the public who saw the car between noon and the time of the crash.”

The four men were all in their late teens or early 20s and one might have suffered a head injury.

Extensive enquiries are continuing are witnesses are urged to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Campbell or colleagues at Braintree CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.