A MUM told of the terrifying moment she was involved in a crash with a prison van outside Basildon Hospital.

Motorist Michelle Mace broke her armwhen she and her husband Adam were involved in a collision with a Serco van in Nethermayne.

Paramedics and police were called to the incident, which happened at 9am yesterday while Mrs Mace’s Fiat Punto was on the roundabout.

Mum-of-four Mrs Mace, 26, of Turner Close, Laindon, said: “It was terrifying. The car spun in a circle. I just wasn’t expecting it. The children should have been in the car, but my mum offered to have them. We were very lucky. If my baby was in the car seat, he would have had no chance.

“I just keep thinking what if my mumdidn’t offer to have the kids. The glass shattered all over the car seat.”

Mrs Mace, who was on her way to work in the hospital’s WRVS shop, was taken to A&E and was in the bay next to a prisoner from the van, who sustained minor neck injuries. She said: “I was concerned when they had the back of the prison van open. You don’t know what they might have done – they could have nicked a bar of chocolate or committed murder.”

Her car has been written off and she will be off work for at least four weeks with a fractured arm and severe whiplash.

Her injuries may also affect her plans to study at Basildon College.

A spokesman for Serco refused to comment on which court the prisoners were going to, where they were coming from and what charges they were facing.

David Holdsworth, Serco’s partnership director, said: “One prisoner suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital, escorted by two custody officers while the other prisoners were taken to court as planned in another van. At no point were the public at risk.”