Braintree: UPDATE: Pedestrians rush to help driver who fell ill at the wheel (From Braintree and Witham Times)
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Braintree: UPDATE: Pedestrians rush to help driver who fell ill at the wheel
3:50pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News
Braintree: Diversions as police block road in town centre
Passers by rushed to the aid of an elderly driver believed to have been taken ill at the wheel.
Good Samaritans gave the man, aged in his 70s and from Braintree, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid when he crashed in Railway Street, Braintree, at just after 11.50am today.
Essex Police said he was in a critical condition in Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, when the Times went to press.
PC Will Batchelor said: “Police and the hospital wish to thank all those people involved in the primary assistance with first aid and CPR for the man, who was apparently taken ill when his car was involved in a collision.
“We would especially like to contact two people in a van, which was hit by the car that went out of control.
“They were the first two to start CPR.”
A fireman and community first responder also helped the patient before the ambulance arrived.
The van is believed to be a white, Citroen Berlingo-style vehicle.
They are asked to call Mr Batchelor at Dunmow policing unit on 101.
Part of Railway Street was closed for the afternoon, but the road was reported clear shortly after 3pm.
