A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs after a crash which left a teenager in a life-threatening condition.

Essex Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which took place in London Road, Great Horkesley.

A Ford Fiesta and an Audi A4 collided just before 9.25pm on Wednesday leaving five people injured.

Four people were trapped inside the Ford and Essex Fire and Rescue Service were forced to cut the car open.

Within an hour they had cut the vehicle and worked with paramedics to safely release them from the car.

They were then left in the care of the ambulance service.

The driver of the Fiesta, an 18-year-old from Colchester, was taken to hospital having suffered a head injury.

He remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Three other people were in the vehicle and two teenage boys from the area remain in hospital with serious multiple injuries.

Another teenage boy suffered minor injuries and is recovering at home.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “The Audi driver, a 23-year-old local man, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

“He remains in custody for questioning.

“A passenger in the Audi, a 23-year-old woman from Sudbury, was taken to hospital with arm injuries and is now recovering at home.

“We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and are looking to speak to any drivers who were in the area at the time and either saw what happened or has any dash cam footage.”

Essex Police would also like to hear from anyone who has CCTV footage from the scene around the time of the crash.

Contact PC Paul Barry at Stanway Roads Policing Unit on 101, quoting incident 1197 of 15/01.