A tanker driver who ploughed into houses and cars is now fighting for his life in hospital - as police investigate the possibility he fell ill at the wheel.

It is believed the driver, aged in his 40s, may have lost control after suffering a medical episode while driving along Marlborough Road in Gillingham on Tuesday morning.

He was transferred to a London hospital last night and was described as being in a critical condition this morning.

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The five tonne nitrogen tanker crashed into parked vehicles and at least five houses in the street, damaging garden walls and railings, steps and front doors. Miraculously, no one inside the homes or in the street was injured.

Police, paramedics, fire crews and the Kent Air Ambulance team were called to the scene shortly after 9am.

The tanker driver was trapped in his vehicle for some time after the smash and had to be cut free by firefighters.

Crews used hydraulic equipment to remove the roof of the cab to get him out and police closed the road while the emergency services dealt with the incident.

The air ambulance landed opposite the crash site on the Great Lines Heritage Park but after being assessed by the emergency helicopter team, he was deemed well enough to be taken to nearby Medway Maritime Hospital by land ambulance, accompanied by the helicopter doctor.

But his condition has since deteriorated and he has been transferred to a specialist hospital.

The tanker is thought to have gone into the back of a dark coloured Mondeo and then smashed against a white van - just moments after the owner had got her dog leads out of it to take her animals for a walk.

The vehicles then hit a white Suzuki Swift and a dark Volkswagen Polo, which were crushed against the houses.

The driver of the Mondeo was treated for minor injuries by paramedics at the scene.

The smash happened near the junction with Lock Street and nearby Paget Street was also closed by police.

The tanker was carrying nitrogen and experts at the scene made sure it was safe before they expelled the gas from the vehicle.

Residents who heard the smash and came out into the street to see what had happened said it was a miracle nobody was injured.

Video: The aftermath of the lorry crash - Jem Collins reports

One man who has lived in the area for 15 years, but didn’t want to be named, said: “We were on the other side of the road when it happened, we were coming up the road to go to the gym.

“We saw the tanker come screaming down the road and then it went onto the pavement and then hit all the houses and flipped one car on its side on to the other cars.

"I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, its unbelievable. I can’t believe no one was hurt or killed" - Witness

“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, its unbelievable. I can’t believe no one was hurt or killed.”

Alex Plumb, 33, was reading his daughter a story in his front room when he looked out of the window.

“I saw the truck zoom past the window and then heard this massive impact as it hit the wall,” he said.

“I could hear the railings being sheared off and all the metal crunching up.

“We were in shock and were worried the liquid nitrogen would blow the tanker up we got to the back of the house.

“Then all the ambulances came and the fire engines and we were told to evacuate.

“The police said we had to leave and go to the Great Lines.

“My boundary wall is totally gone and little gully to the basement is inaccessible and the steps are gone, we will have to use the back door for a few weeks I think.

“It’s amazing no one was on the pavement they would have been gone (dead).”

While the incident unfolded, one resident was at work and had to ask her daughter to check to see if her property or car had been damaged.

Kay C wrote on KentOnline: “It was my house and my cars that were crashed into two years ago and I am stuck at work not knowing if it is my house or car again.

“I’ve asked my daughter to go and check for me but I agree the cars speeding along Marlborough Road are getting out of hand and something needs to be done to slow the traffic before someone gets killed.”

Medway Council’s building surveyors assessed the damage to the houses and allowed householders to return later in the afternoon.

The road was fully re-opened at 6.30pm after all the vehicles were removed.

A council spokesman added: “The houses have been deemed safe to live in and homeowners have been advised to not to use their front doors.

“They have also been advised to contact their insurance providers.”

Police investigating the cause of the crash have issued an appeal for information.

Officers were particularly keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw the lorry prior to the collision.

Witnesses with information are asked to contact PC Jamie Woodhams in the serious collision investigation unit on 01622 798538, quoting reference 25-266.

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