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Girl, 6, dies and another child hurt in A12 crash

Lewis AdamsEssex
News imageRichard Knights/BBC Three police cars and a motorbike blocking the dual-carriageway A12. There is a lorry with a red trailer pulled over to the side of the road. Police officers are looking at a black car in the background.Richard Knights/BBC
The northbound A12 was shut between Stanway and the Colchester United football stadium after Monday's crash

A six-year-old girl was killed and another child was injured in a collision that shut part of the A12 on Monday, police have said.

The crash, involving a lorry and a car, happened at about 10:30 BST on the northbound carriageway near the Colchester United football stadium.

The road was shut in both directions and an air ambulance landed, while vehicles caught in the closure were turned around.

Det Insp Mark Fraser, of Essex Police, said the lorry driver had passed all road-side tests and was due to be interviewed in the coming days.

The injured child suffered a leg injury and was recovering in hospital, the force added.

The collision led to parts of Colchester being gridlocked throughout the day, while A12 queues stretched back to Marks Tey.

News imageRichard Knights/BBC Police cars by a lorry and black car at the scene of the crash. Traffic is flowing normally on the southbound carriageway.Richard Knights/BBC
Detectives are investigating how the incident on Monday happened

"First and foremost, my thoughts are very much with this young child's family and wider loved ones," Fraser said.

"We have specialist officers in place with them to ensure they are given as much support as possible."

He said detectives were piecing together how the "sensitive and complex" incident happened.

Witnesses and people with dashcam footage have been urged to contact Essex Police.

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