Rush-hour traffic was brought to a standstill as a police speed camera enforcement van was crushed between two lorries on the A127.
The driver of the van was taken to hospital with minor injuries after the smash near the Tesco roundabout, in Southend.
A third lorry was also involved in the crash on the Southend-bound track of the dual carriageway yesterday afternoon.
Traffic tailed back to Kent Elms Corner as police spent two-and-a-half hours clearing the debris.
Sgt Justin Smith, of Rayleigh road policing unit, said: "We managed to keep lane two open for traffic but there were still horrendous tailbacks."
