A HIGH speed police chase ended with a fleeing driver smashing into another motorist on one of Southampton's busiest roads.

Horrified residents watched as officers surveyed the twisted remains of a badly damaged white Mercedes van and a yellow Citroen Saxo after a collision on Bursledon Road in Thornhill.

Police began pursuing the Mercedes van on the M27 eastbound carriageway in Southampton shortly before 3pm.

The van driver left the motorway at junction seven before heading towards the Thornhill area of the city and crashing outside a BP garage close to the junction with Warburton Road.

Officers continued to pursue him on foot when he climbed from his vehicle and were backed by helicopter crews.

Caroline Briten, 30, heard the impact from below her flat on the fourth floor of the 14-storey Hightown Towers block.

She said: “I heard this big bang – immediately I thought it was a crash, jumped up to look out and saw them there.

“It is terrible, there could have been little kids crossing the road. Whoever did it hasn’t taken people into consideration.”

Her neighbour Carol Gleeson, 56, heard the sirens and a helicopter circling overhead. She said: “My first thought was ‘oh my God!’ maybe a kid has been run over as it is near picking up from school time.”

Mum-of-two Kerry Danowski, 36, also from Hightown Towers said: “It is despicable – what if a child had been crossing the road?”

Steve Stockley, 33, from Butts Road, who also has two children, said: “It could have taken someone’s life – you can tell it was a strong impact because both airbags impacted.”

The Citroen’s front end crumpled in the crash and officers shut the road for two hours and set up a 300-metre cordon while they investigated. The van – which sustained damage to its front end – was towed away.

Ambulance crews were called to the scene though it was not clear last night whether anyone was hurt in the drama.

Police last night arrested a man on suspicion of failing to stop after a crash, assaulting police and stealing a T-shirt.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.