A WOMAN was airlifted to hospital after being cut free from her crashed car at a notorious danger spot.

The incident happened close to the Epping High Road end of Piercing Hill, Theydon Bois, at about 4.20pm yesterday afternoon and three fire crews were quickly called to the scene.

Julia Lench, 58, of Piercing Hill, was one of the first people to see the crash.

She said: “We just heard the bang but we didn't realise it was so close. Then we heard the fire service and the police. They were there quite quickly.

“She'd just taken the bend and ended up crashing into a tree. It was just the one car. It was badly damaged and they had to cut the roof off to free her.”

The 60-year-old occupant of the car was taken by helicopter to the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, with a suspected head and leg injury. Her condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

Her blue Vauxhall Vectra estate had smoke coming from the bonnet as officers arrived. Firefighters used two sets of hydraulic cutting equipment to free the woman.

Piercing Hill has been the scene of many accidents, and two years ago residents even threatened to blockade the road unless extra safety measures were put in.

Mrs Lench said: “I think a lot of people would like a speed camera here. It's a straight road with a 30mph limit but people just don't see that. The police do do quite a few mobile checks, but I don't think that deters people.”

Jill Oakley, 76, of Coppice Row, said: “There's a speed limit there and a sign which flashes if you're going too fast, but you find as you come down the hill that the car wants to go faster. If you keep to the limit there shouldn't be a problem.”