THE driver and passengers of a speeding car which ploughed into a set of lights on a pelican crossing are “lucky to be alive” after fleeing the scene, according to police.

Officers from Essex Police’s dog came across the wreckage of the silver Ford Focus 30 minutes after they tried to stop it.

PC Tony Mayo, who was patrolling in Pitsea in the early hours of Tuesday, tried to follow the car - which was speeding through residential streets - before losing track of it.

As it tried to escape the police by going the wrong way around the roundabout, the car lost control and crashed in Courtauld Road, Basildon.

PC Mayo said it is a miracle the occupants of the silver hatchback were able to get out and flee the scene. He told the Echo the crash was so serious they could have been paralysed.

He said: “A car made off from us in Chalvedon Avenue, Pitsea. It was driving really fast.

“We couldn’t get near it and we thought we had lost it.

“Then about 20 minutes later, we got this call that there had been a crash outside the sewage works, which normally happens when a car is going that fast.

“We turned up a couple of minutes later and it was absolute carnage.

“The car had gone the wrong way around the roundabout and skidded across the road, before smashing into the traffic light and knocking it over.”

Police dog Will helped officers trace a scent back towards Pitsea, but there was no sign of anyone.

The car has not been reported stolen. Enquiries are ongoing to locate the owners and find who was driving the vehicle.

PC Mayo added: “It was a miracle that they managed to walk away from that crash, the car was a complete write-off.

“People could have been paralysed.”

Firefighters were called to the scene over fears the road was not safe for other vehicles to use.

A spokesman for Essex Fire Service said: “Firefighters from Basildon were called to attend a road traffic collision in Courtauld Road at 4.40am on Tuesday. There was no action required on arrival.”

Anyone with information in relation to the crash can call Essex Police on 101, or independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Alternatively visit crimestoppers-uk.org.