A MOTORIST was killed when his car left a country road in Suffolk and crashed into a tree.The man was driving along the B1119 Saxmundham to Leiston road when his blue Citron Saxo left the carriageway near Knodishall and hit a tree just before 1.

A MOTORIST was killed when his car left a country road in Suffolk and crashed into a tree.

The man was driving along the B1119 Saxmundham to Leiston road when his blue Citron Saxo left the carriageway near Knodishall and hit a tree just before 1.30pm yesterday.

An off-duty paramedic was first to attend the scene after spotting the car in a ditch as he drove along the road. The man, who was declared dead at the scene, has not been named by police.

No-one else was involved in the accident.

Officers closed the road for almost four hours as special investigators examined the accident site.

Insp Mike Hinshelwood, of Suffolk police, said: "The male driver, the sole occupant of this vehicle, died at the scene. He is believed to be a local man but details will not be released until all next of kin are informed and a formal identification has been made.

Firefighters from Ipswich, Saxmundham and Leiston were called to the scene and officers released the man from the vehicle.

A spokeswoman for the East Anglian Ambulance service said: "An off-duty paramedic came across it and he was first on the scene followed by a doctor and an ambulance from Ipswich.

"It was reported as a car in a ditch."

Earlier during the day at 9.30am, a man was freed by firefighters and taken to West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds suffering from minor injuries, after a crash on the A11 at Barton Mills, near Mildenhall.

And a collision between two vehicles on the A12 at Blythburgh saw five casualties treated by paramedics.

The incident, which was reported at around 10am yesterday , was cleared within half an hour. Crews from Southwold, Wrentham and Lowestoft attended the accident.

Anyone witnesses to the Knodishall accident should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500.