A DRIVER was lucky to escape serious injury after he fell asleep at the wheel on the A12.

The motorist smashed into an empty fuel container before smashing into a tree near the Ardleigh Interchange on Monday night.

Police attended and the driver has now been reported.

PC Tom Raes from the Roads Policing Unit based in Stanway posted a picture of the wreckage of the car demonstrating the serious consequences of falling asleep while driving.

PC Raes said: “The driver of this vehicle fell asleep earlier on the A12.

“The vehicle collided with the rear of an empty fuel container before the trees to the near side.

“Lucky to escape alive.

“Driver reported.”