AN investigation is under way after an ambulance on a 999 call crashed and rolled on to its side, injuring three people on board.The ambulance was taking a 51-year-old woman to Colchester General Hospital with chest pains and breathing difficulties when it left the A120 slip road at Hare Green, near Frating, and flipped over.

By Juliette Maxam

AN investigation is under way after an ambulance on a 999 call crashed and rolled on to its side, injuring three people on board.

The ambulance was taking a 51-year-old woman to Colchester General Hospital with chest pains and breathing difficulties when it left the A120 slip road at Hare Green, near Frating, and flipped over.

The patient suffered a minor injury in the single vehicle accident, which happened at about 4.15am yesterday.

Her companion, who was travelling with her to hospital, was the most badly hurt in the crash, with neck, back, hip and right leg pain. A paramedic in the back of the ambulance also sustained broken ribs.

The driver was uninjured, but an Essex Ambulance Service spokesman said he was "badly shaken and very distressed" by the incident.

Four ambulances, a BASICS (British Association for Immediate Care) emergency doctor and two senior managers were sent to the scene of the crash.

The three casualties and the driver were taken to Colchester General Hospital.

Three fire crews from Colchester and Wivenhoe were also sent to the scene of the crash.

Station officer Russell Cottis, of Colchester Fire Station, said: "There were two passengers inside and one paramedic. We had to assist getting them out of the ambulance with the injuries they had."

Mr Cottis said fire crews stabilised the vehicle and made sure the hydraulic ramp was safe.

Police closed the road until 7am to allow an initial investigation to take place and for the wreckage to be cleared.

Essex Police and the ambulance service have started an investigation into the accident.

Essex Ambulance Service director of operations Paul Leaman said: "Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those involved.

"We will be launching a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. We will be working with the police to examine exactly what happened and to see if there are any lessons to be learned."

The ambulance was responding to a call at 2.51am to go to the aid of the woman suffering chest pains, who was at Naze Marine Holiday Park, in Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash or the moments leading up to it to contact Stanway road policing unit on 01206 762512.