A DRIVER is seriously injured in hospital today after a vicious street battle sparked a chain of events which resulted in a major road accident.

Josh Warwick

A DRIVER is seriously injured in hospital today after a vicious street battle sparked a chain of events which resulted in a major road accident.

The drama began at around 6.30am when residents in Kings Avenue, Ipswich, were woken by a mob of up to ten people embroiled in a fight, several of whom were armed with metal pipes and wood.

When officers arrived soon after, the group dispersed, with a number jumping into a white Vauxhall Vectra and speeding away.

The car made its way to Woodbridge Road where it was involved in a head-on smash with a VW Golf, near to the Case is Altered pub.

The driver of the Golf, a man, was seriously hurt and had to be cut from the vehicle before paramedics could take him to Ipswich Hospital. He is believed to have suffered serious back injuries.

The driver of the Vectra, who sustained non-life threatening head injuries, was arrested at the scene before he was taken to hospital by ambulance under police guard.

A section of Woodbridge Road, between the junction of Brunswick Road and Sidegate Lane, was immediately closed and was expected to remain so for several hours while investigators scoured the scene.

Today's crash came only hours after a 16-year-old motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries following a road accident in Ipswich's Franciscan Way, shortly before 10.30pm yesterday.

It is believed the boy was not wearing a crash helmet. Police are also investigating whether or not the bike was stolen.

A Kings Avenue resident who alerted police to today's fight said he was woken by shouting in the street.

He said: “I looked out of the window and there was on chap on the floor whose head was being hit with bits of wood and pipe.

“I immediately called the police and when they arrived the men quickly left.

“This road is on the route home from pubs so we get a bit of noise and ruckus but not usually at 6.30 in the morning.”

It is believed the group were of Turkish or Middle Eastern origin.

Another resident said he was shocked at the level of violence.

He said: “I looked out of the window and saw a man coming down the road. He was being hit with poles and sticks.

“The group were striking him around the back of the legs.

“It went on for about ten minutes and it wasn't at all nice.”

Two ambulances were sent to the scene, while the fire service was also dispatched.

A police spokesman said: “Officers were called to a disturbance in the street involving up to ten people.

“When police arrived, a car made off at speed and then was involved in an accident.

“It was involved in a head-on collision in Woodbridge Road outside the Case is Altered pub.

“The fire service was called to extract a person, believed to be a male, from a vehicle. They had serious but not life threatening injuries.”

The spokesman said the Vectra was registered to an Ipswich address, while the Golf, which may have been a hire vehicle, was from Stockport.

- A crash between a car and a moped left one person with minor injuries today. The accident happened at 8.40am in Nacton Road, Ipswich, at the corner of Powling Road.

It is believed the motorcyclist suffered minor arm injuries.

- For more on these stories, including pictures, see tonight's Evening Star.