POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a pedestrian was critically injured in a road collision on the A12 at Chelmsford.

Officers were called at 3.40am today, Thursday August 25, following reports that a man had been struck by a van on the northbound slip road to the A414 at Sandon.

The man, who is 18 and from the South Woodham Ferrers area, suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Broomfield Hospital.

He was later transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cambridge where his condition was described as critical.

The A12 was closed for more than four hours between Junctions 17 and 18 while police investigation work was carried out.

The collision happened just a few yards on to the slip from the northbound carriageway.

Officers now believe that the man had been seen a few minutes earlier walking on the roundabout on the Sandon park-and-ride side of the interchange.

It is thought he was walking down the slip road when the collision occurred.

Any witnesses, or anyone who saw the man walking in the area, should contact the investigating officer Pc Steve Catton at the Essex Police Serious Collision Unit on 101 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk