Width restriction post buried 4ft into car after Gants Hill collision

It is believed there was a second person in the car who made off on foot before the police arrived on the scene.

He was later caught after a dog unit was used to track him down.

The black Volkswagen Golf hit the bollard at about 10.30pm in Longwood Gardens, Gants Hill.

The car hit the bollard head on resulting in the post ending up past the car’s crumple 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 his car then put up white sheeting to stop residents watching as he was seen to 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 at 10.32pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car. We sent two single responders, a medical team in a car and an ambulance crew to the scene.

“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.”

Comment Redbridge police to come.

• 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.