A MAN was rescued from his van and taken to hospital with a back injury after a rush hour collision in Dagenham. The crash, involving a white Volkswagen Van and a blue Peugeot car, happened on the Valence Avenue junction with Kemp Road, at around 8.35am l

A MAN was rescued from his van and taken to hospital with a back injury after a rush hour collision in Dagenham.

The crash, involving a white Volkswagen Van and a blue Peugeot car, happened on the Valence Avenue junction with Kemp Road, at around 8.35am last Friday March 6.

Fire crews used special equipment to carefully remove the 33-year-old van driver from his vehicle, after an injury to his back left him trapped.

He was taken by ambulance to Queens Hospital, Romford. His injuries are not thought to be serious.

The driver of the other vehicle was unhurt.

Both the car and the van were left badly damaged by the smash.

Jane Morris, who lives opposite the crash site, described hearing 'a loud bang' as the vehicles collided.

"I went outside and saw there had been an accident in the middle of the junction. The man in the van didn't get out, but fire crews spent about half an hour trying to get him out safely. He was put on a board and taken away in an ambulance."

She added: "This junction is an accident hotspot. There have been so many crashes here over the years. It's very worrying."

A London Ambulance spokesperson said: "Staff treated a 33-year-old male for back injuries. He was collared and boarded on the scene and taken to Queens Hospital as priority."

Police re-directed traffic around the damaged vehicles until they were removed at around 10.15.