A VAN driver had a lucky escape after his vehicle apparently crashed into a traffic bollard and spun into a hedge.

Rush-hour traffic ground to a standstill after the accident, which may have involved an articulated lorry as well as the blue van.

The incident occurred just before 7am today at the Common Road junction of the A1079, in Dunnington.

Emergency crews attended, but only one man - believed to be the van driver - was treated for minor injuries. Derek Fryer, of the nearby Costcutter garage, said the van was still in a hedge opposite the garage at 8.30am.

He said a badly-damaged traffic bollard was also in the road as several police officers attended the scene. The lorry was not damaged.

He added: "It looks like somebody has had a lucky escape."

The accident blocked the York-bound side of the road for two hours, causing traffic to build up.

Ambulance crews said the van appeared to have hit a traffic bollard in the middle of the road and spun round into a hedge.

Updated: 10:56 Thursday, October 23, 2003