A MOTORIST was killed when his car left a country road in Suffolk and crashed into a tree.The man was driving along the B1119 Saxmundham to Leiston road when his blue Citron Saxo left the carriageway near Knodishall and hit a tree just before 1.

A MOTORIST was killed when his car left a country road in Suffolk and crashed into a tree.

The man was driving along the B1119 Saxmundham to Leiston road when his blue Citron Saxo left the carriageway near Knodishall and hit a tree just before 1.30pm yesterday.

An off-duty paramedic was first to attend the scene after spotting the car in a ditch as he drove along the road. The man, who was declared dead at the scene, had not been named by police last night.

No-one else was involved in the accident.

Officers closed the road for almost four hours as special investigators examined the accident site.

Insp Mike Hinshelwood, of Suffolk police, said: "Shortly before 1.30pm on the B1119 road at Knodishall, which is between Saxmundham and Leiston, a blue Citron Saxo car left the carriageway and crashed into a tree.

"The male driver, the sole occupant of this vehicle, died at the scene. He is believed to be a local man but details will not be released until all next of kin are informed and a formal identification has been made.

"The road was closed for nearly four hours while specialist police investigators examined the scene and naturally I would like any witnesses to contact Suffolk Police."

A Suffolk Fire Service spokeswoman said it was called to assist in a road traffic accident on the Leiston to Saxmundham Road at 1.25pm yesterday. Firefighters from Ipswich, Saxmundham and Leiston were called and officers released one trapped person from the vehicle. The stop message for the incident was reported at 3.38pm.

A spokeswoman for the East Anglian Ambulance service said: "An off-duty paramedic came across it and he was first on the scene followed by a doctor and an ambulance from Ipswich.

"It was reported as a car in a ditch."

The spokeswoman confirmed the man was declared dead at the scene.

Earlier during the day at 9.30am , a man was freed by firefighters and taken to West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds suffering from minor injuries, after a crash on the A11 at Barton Mills, near Mildenhall.

A collision between two vehicles on the A12 at Blythburgh saw five casualties treated by paramedics.

The incident, which was reported at around 10am yesterday , was cleared within half an hour. Crews from Southwold, Wrentham and Lowestoft attended the accident.

Anyone witnesses to the Knodishall accident should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500.