NINE people who battled to rescue a family and a man trapped inside their cars in a crash on Essex Regiment Way were today commended for their bravery.
The group, which included several off-duty nurses, an off duty policeman, as well as the Chief Constable of Essex Police, were presented with a commendation after they helped at the scene of a fatal traffic accident in April.
Between them, the group managed to pull a family with two small children out of one car, but were unable to save the driver of the other vehicle, a red sports car, despite desperate attempts to free him from the wreckage.
"On that sad day, the public at that accident were breath-takingly decent, brave and caring and the emergency services were prompt, professional, co-ordinated and compassionate," said Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh.
"I was proud to have played a small part but deeply saddened we could not have done more for the poor man in the red sports car. This commendation is dedicated to him and his family."
Sophie Astbury from Braintree , Michael Hall and Sally Taylor, both from Kelvedon, Ann Marie-Crowther from Chelmsford, Myra Whitaker from Braintree, Denise Freeman and Peter Hine from Grantham in Lincolnshire and Ds Paul Storey, an off duty Metropolitan Police Officer, were commended for their bravery, compassion and public spirit.
The family who were rescued from their care were taken to Addenbrookes Hospital and treated for serious injuries, but have all since recovered from the accident.
Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: "I am delighted today not only to give the Chief Constable his commendation but also to meet those members of the public, who stopped to help at the scene of this tragic incident.
"It is hard to imagine being confronted by such a dreadful scene, but I do know it took great bravery and compassion on the part of all those commended here today to rescue and then help those involved and to attempt to save the life of the person who, sadly, died.
"I know the Chief Constable would want me to add that every day of the week, Essex Police officers and PCSOs perform acts of bravery and selflessness to protect the communities they serve. All of us who live and work in Essex, are fortunate to have such a professional police force whose members regularly put themselves in harm's way to protect us."
