A WOMAN driver is battling serious injuries today after the car she was driving hit a tree, throwing rush hour traffic into chaos.Colchester Road was closed until around 11am today following the crash which happened at 6am.

A WOMAN was is battling serious injury today after the car she was driving hit a tree in Ipswich, throwing rush hour traffic into chaos.

A black Nissan Micra, believed to have been being driven by a nurse, was travelling along Colchester Road when it left the road and collided with a tree, with enough force to uproot it.

Police and firefighters were called to the scene of the accident between Rushmere Road and Renfrew road at around 6am this morning.

The road was closed until around 11am while police investigated the incident.

Two firefighters from the Prince's Street station removed the woman from the vehicle, and she was taken to Ipswich hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.

A resident who lives nearby told how he was awoken by two loud noises.

He said: “I was in bed and not fully awake. The window was open and I heard a bang - it was fairly loud - and a thud as the tree went down.

“I got up and went to have a look. By that time the police had just turned up.

“A car was up on the pavement and a tree across the road. The person was being put in an ambulance.

“It looked quite serious. There were three fire engines, four police cars, a fire chief and two ambulances.”

The resident said when the ambulance taking the driver to hospital left the scene it was escorted by a police car in front and a fire engine behind.

Do you know the woman involved in the crash? Contact the Evening Star news room on 01473 324788 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk