Teenager dies and five people arrested after crash in south Essex

A TEENAGER has died and five people have been arrested after a single-vehicle crash in south Essex.

Essex Police are investigating a fatal crash in Crays Hill, Billericay, and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Officers were called to the scene of a single-vehicle collision in the area of Oak Road shortly after 12.35am on Saturday, May 25.

Alongside ambulance and fire service colleagues, officers worked hard at the scene after establishing a Mercedes car had left the road and veered into a ditch.

Sadly, a 19-year-old woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. Essex Police say her family have been informed.

As a result of ongoing enquiries, officers have made a number of arrests as they look to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Four males, aged 74, 54, 18 and 16, all from Billericay, and one woman, aged 20, from Rayleigh, were arrested on Saturday and questioned in connection with the collision.

They have each since been bailed with conditions while enquiries continue.

Essex Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the vehicle in question, a black Mercedes SLK, in the hours leading up to the collision, to come forward.

Det Sgt Steve Holmes, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our work has been continuing throughout the weekend to piece together the circumstances which led up to this horrific incident.

“This collision has cost a young woman her life and we will work tirelessly to establish what happened to cause her death.

“We need people who may have been on the road, in the area of Basildon and Billericay, in the hours before this collision on the evening of Saturday 25 May, to think back to what they may have seen.

“In particular if you saw a car matching this description, a black Mercedes SLK, we want to hear from you.

“It may be your attention was drawn to the manner of driving, or perhaps you have dash cam footage which could be reviewed after you drove in an area near to where the collision took place.

“We believe there were likely four occupants of the vehicle that night – two men and two women.

“Anyone who has information or footage which could assist us is asked to get in touch.”