A MAN has been left with bruising and pain after being involved in a hit-and-run crash involving a suspected stolen vehicle.

Simon Gillespie, 27, from Manchester, was on the way to visit his partner Jodi Brown, who lives in Wickford, when the crash happened in Nevendon Road, Basildon.

Essex Police was unable to confirm the car was stolen, but said enquiries are on going.

Jodi, 34, said: “I was expecting him to arrive at my house between 10pm and 10.30pm, but he called at about 10.15pm to say there has been an accident.

“He was coming along the road and where it bends very tight to the right, a car came towards him and hit him and pushed him up on the verge and into a telegraph pole.

“It was a black Ford Focus and it hit Simon’s car at about 45 or 50mph.

“He was left with a bruised knee and pain in his neck. He was luck as it could have been a lot worse.

“It was a hire car, a black Hyundai, that he was using, as his car was in a garage being fixed in Manchester.

“He was shaken up and still is a bit, he had to take a day off work.”

The couple has been left feeling angry that the driver hit the car and just left the scene.

She said the hire car was written off, the airbags had been deployed and the driver’s door was bent inwards.

Miss Brown said: “I just can’t understand how someone can do this.

“The police told us they were looking for a car with the helicopter the night before similar to this one.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “A woman reported that a vehicle, described as a black Ford, collided with her car, a black Hyundai, at about 10pm the day before, Friday, November 2, and failed to stop at the scene.

“A man suffered minor injuries. Enquires are ongoing.”