By James HoreA SOLDIER was fighting for his life last night after his car was involved in a horror crash with a coach full of holidaymakers.The soldier, who is based at Colchester Garrison, had to be cut free from the wreckage of his car after it collided with the single-decker coach on a country road.

By James Hore

A SOLDIER was fighting for his life last night after his car was involved in a horror crash with a coach full of holidaymakers.

The soldier, who is based at Colchester Garrison, had to be cut free from the wreckage of his car after it collided with the single-decker coach on a country road.

He was taken to Colchester General Hospital for treatment to what are understood to be critical, life-threatening injuries.

The accident happened at 7.15pm yesterday on the B1025 road near Peldon when a blue Peugeot 206 car driven towards Colchester by the soldier collided with a King's coach heading towards Mersea.

The soldier - who has not been named, but is a serviceman with 16th Tank Regiment - was freed by firefighters using cutting gear and taken by ambulance to hospital.

His front-seat passenger, who is also believed to be a soldier at Colchester Garrison, suffered minor injuries and was also taken to the town's general hospital for treatment.

The passengers on the Copford-based coach escaped without serious injury, although the driver suffered cuts and bruises.

Essex Police closed the road while firefighters freed the trapped soldier and it remained shut last night as an investigation was launched into the cause of the crash.

Anyone with information about the accident should contact Stanway traffic police on 01206 762512.

james.hore@eadt.co.uk