Friday, January 27, 2012 POLICE have launched an investigation after a road crash involving an ambulance conveying a critically ill patient.

The East of England Ambulance Service vehicle, which was using its blue lights at the time, overturned into a ditch after colliding with a van in Main Road, Danbury, between Hulls Lane and Riffhams Lane, shortly before 10.30am this morning.

It was transporting a man in his 70s who had been unconcious from a house in Great Totham to Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, when the accident happened. The man, who the ambulance service insist remained in a stable condition, was taken by a second ambulance to Broomfield Hospital.

Three members of the initial ambulance crew were also assessed by colleagues and taken separately to the same hospital with minor injuries.

Fire crews from Chelmsford and Baddow were also called to the scene and released a trapped man within 40 minutes.

It is not known whether the trapped man was the patient or a member of the ambulance crew.

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision and said that the road was closed for about two hours.

Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson added: “An immediate investigation has been launched by our trust to find out the cause of the collision this morning and we are working closely with Essex Police."