UPDATE: Trail of blood leads to arrest after Gants Hill bollard crash

The dog found the 36-year-old man a few streets away from where the collision happened in Longwood Gardens, Gants Hill last night.

He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

A 30-year-old man, who was a passenger in the Volkswagen Golf, was treated at the scene and taken to hospital with head injuries.

Ambulance crews were called to the scene at about 10.30pm who in turn called the police.

The car hit the bollard head on resulting in the post ending up past the car’s crumble zone almost reaching the steering wheel, according to firefighters.

About 20 firefighters, two ambulances and police vehicles attended the scene.

Firefighters worked to cut the unconscious man from the car then put up white sheeting to stop residents watching as he was treated by ambulance crews.

A firefighter at Ilford Fire Station said: “Someone did not judge the width restriction very well. The post was about four foot into the car. Those posts don’t budget, even for HGVs.”

Firefighters from Hainault Fire Station, New North Road, Hainault and Woodford Fire Station, Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green attended the incident.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car.

“Our staff treated a 30-year-old man for a head injury and took the patient to the major trauma centre at Royal London Hospital.”

• Did you see the crash last night? Is the car still there? Call the newsdesk on 020 8477 3826 or email amanda.nunn@archant.co.uk.