Three people have died on Essex roads, taking this year's tragic total to 101.

This compares with 112 people losing their lives in road incidents last year and 92 fatalities in 2002.

Police confirmed the 100th road victim was 58-year old Alan Hoy, of Churchfields, West Mersea.

He died when he lost control of his Land Rover Defender in East Road, East Mersea, as he was driving towards West Mersea on Friday, at 11.50pm. The vehicle hit a telegraph pole, trapping him and his dog.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "He had to be cut free by firefighters but was certified dead at the scene."

A vet was called out to treat the dog after it had been released from the vehicle by firefighters using specialist cutting equipment.

Earlier on the same day, an elderly man from Colchester died in a crash at the junction of Dairy Farm Road and the B1018 Southminster Road, near Althorne on the Dengie peninsula.

The Essex Air Ambulance, two ambulances and a paramedic manager were sent to the scene, but a 25-minute effort by crews attending failed to save the 89-year-old motorist's life.

His 85-year-old wife was flown to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford with a serious injury to her back.

A 75-year-old man, of Halstead, died following a collision involving a Vauxhall Astra van as he was using the zebra crossing outside the library in Bridge Street, Halstead.

He was taken to Colchester General Hospital where he later died.

The driver of the van, a 42-year-old local man, was due to be questioned by police who are conducting an investigation into the accident.

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Published Monday, December 20, 2004

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