Published: Friday, 26th June, 2009 6:30pm

Driver dies after "heart attack" at wheel

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POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man died at the wheel of his car in Earley this afternoon.

The incident caused major traffic chaos to the east of Reading with tailbacks building up as officers closed a stretch of Rushey Way for an hour to carry out their inquiries.

Police say around 4pm, a blue Vauxhall Corsa, being driven by a 44-year-old man from the Earley area, was travelling from the direction of the ASDA supermarket when it veered off the carriageway without warning and collided with a tree.

The driver, the only occupant of the vehicle, was free from the wreckage and treated at the scene by paramedics but died en route to hospital.

The cause of death is not known and a post mortem will be carried out next week.

But firefighter David Sharpe said: 'The paramedics think the driver may have had a heart attack, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle.'

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any other information is asked to contact PC David Hannan via the 24-hour non-emergency number, 08458 505 505, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Firefighter David Sharpe said: 'The paramedics think the driver may have had a heart attack which caused him to loose control of the vehicle.'

The crash caused severe traffic congestion in the area.