A bus driver was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a serious crash on Mersea Island yesterday.

East Anglian Daily Times: Essex Police investigate a collision on East Mersea Road between a bus and a low-loader lorry which was carrying a steam engine.Essex Police investigate a collision on East Mersea Road between a bus and a low-loader lorry which was carrying a steam engine.

A single-decker bus was in collision with an HGV carrying a steam traction engine on a trailer in East Road, East Mersea, shortly before 10am.

There were 34 passengers on the bus, six of which were taken to Colchester General Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Firefighters released the bus driver, a 44-year-old man from Colchester, who was trapped as a result of the crash, at 10.36am and he was flown to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, in a life-threatening condition.

A further 16 patients, believed to be bus passengers, were taken to Colchester and Broomfield hospitals with various minor injuries, while another two patients were treated and discharged by paramedics at the scene.

The road remained closed for most of the day.

A 51-year-old man from Great Yarmouth was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was in custody overnight.

Police believe the lorry travelled from Lowestoft the morning of the crash and officers are appealing for anyone who saw it on its journey to contact them.

The white low-loader lorry was carrying a black static traction engine.

In a statement First Essex, which runs the number 67 bus service, said the company’s emergency management procedures had been activated and staff were providing support to the emergency services.

Alex Jones, managing director of First Essex, said: “Our primary concern is to support our driver and the customers involved.

“Staff from First Essex are assisting the emergency services. We will provide whatever additional resources are needed.”

A spokesman from R M Cowles Transport, which owns the lorry involved in the crash, said the firm was in touch with police about the incident.

John May, mayor of West Mersea, said he heard ambulances travelling to the scene.

He added: “The road is not notorious for crashes, but it is quite narrow. I use the bus quite a bit and it’s a job for things to pass along there.”

Anyone with information should call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.