MIRACLE: Woman airlifted to hospital after car is crushed between two lorries

The VW Golf is visible crushed beneath the rear trailer of an articulated lorry

A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after the five-vehicle smash on the A120 in Colchester, when a skip lorry appeared to push a VW Golf under the back of an HGV

A driver was somehow plucked alive from this horrific road smash after her car was crushed between TWO lorries.

In a five-vehicle pile-up, the 27-year-old woman was hit from behind by a skip lorry and wedged under the lorry in front of her.

The furthest forward lorry was hit with such force that two cars in front of it were also damaged.

The Golf driver, from Colchester, was flown to the Royal London Hospital and early indications are she may have escaped without life-threatening or life-changing injuries - which police described as "extremely unlikely".

A 51-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing a collision and on suspicion of being under the influence of drink and drugs. He is being questioned at Colchester police station.

The crash happened on the Braintree-bound carriageway of the A120 opposite the Red Lion pub in Little Tey, Colchester.

Three vehicles had crashed minutes earlier, and had moved into a bus stop, when the five-car collision took place.

Eyewitnesses described the horrific scene as one of "devastation".

Stuart Hunt, who was exchanging details with another driver after he had been involved in a minor crash just 10 minutes earlier, was one of the first people at the scene.

He said: "A car braked and the lorry did not stop.

"There was screeching and a lorry hit a lorry.

"We called the police but we did not know there was a car in the middle until we went and had a look.

"The car was destroyed - I thought the driver was a gonner.

"The emergency services were brilliant, they were here in 10 minutes."

The crash happened yards from the entrance to Red Lion pub. John Murray, landlord, said: "I was in bed having a cup of tea when I heard a monumental thud.

"I hadn't heard braking cars, just this thud, so I came outside and saw the devastation.

"A skip lorry had hit the back of another lorry and there was a car, obliterated, inbetween.

"It had taken the top off and you could barely see the car.

"The lorries were touching."

Police closed the road in both directions between Marks Tey to Coggeshall for five-and-a-half hours.

Sgt Damon Bainbridge, senior investigating officer, said: "It would appear the skip lorry has collided with the car, pushing it underneath the HGV, before continuing to collide with the lorry in front.

Two other vehicles, a Toyota Hilux and Seat Ibiza, were in front of the second lorry and were also damaged.

"For whatever reason, maybe for a car turning further off the road further up, traffic had slowed or stopped before the skip lorry did not stop in time."

Sgt Bainbridge said it is incredible the victim does not have critical injuries.

"It is extremely unlikely to get a survivor in a crash like this.

"If they did survive, we would expect them to have life-threatening or life-changing injuries.

"It goes to show what a difference the quality of vehicle construction can make and what else can I call it except luck."