FIVE youths have been arrested on suspicion of drug offences and stealing a car after a two-car crash in Witham last night.
A police helicopter was scrambled at around 8pm and ground cars were on the scene at 7.45pm after the collision in Powers Hall End.
The police helicopter was used to help track down a 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old man from the town who had fled from the Saxo after the crash.
A force spokesman said: "Police attended in Witham following reports from a member of the public that there had been a road traffic collision between two cars.
"Officers attended and discovered a white Citroen Saxo and a grey Ford Focus had been in collision with each other.
"A number of youths were arrested at the scene and the police helicopter was used to locate two others who had decamped from the Saxo.
"A 16-year-old boy from Chelmsford, an 18-year-old man from Chelmsford, two 15-year-old girls from Maldon and a 19-year-old man from Haringey, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of drug offences.
"A 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old man from Witham were also arrested in the area at around 9pm on suspicion of taking a motor vehicle without consent.
"They are currently helping police with their enquiries at Chelmsford and Braintree police stations."
