Two people have been killed in separate car crashes on the Essex stretch of the A12 during the course of the weekend.

The first smash happened at around 5.30pm on Saturday on the Colchester-bound track of the A12, just north of Witham.

A Ford Fiesta XR2 left the carriageway and collided with a lamppost, according to an Essex Police spokesman.

Three people were in the car. The person killed was 16-year-old Danielle Sutherland of Leigham Court Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, the car's front seat passenger. She was certified dead at the scene.

The driver, Scott Hales, 18, of Church Road, Tiptree, and the rear seat passenger, Robert Cornell, 18, of Layer Breton, were both taken to Colchester General Hospital.

Police said the road had been damp at the time of the accident, and light rain had been falling.

There were several minor accidents among the tailbacks on the A12 caused by the smash, and police decided to close the A12 for two hours northbound from the Hatfield Peverel junction, causing major traffic congestion in the Witham area.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident to come forward. they should call Chelmsford traffic police on 01245 452918.

The second accident happened yesterday near Brentwood, between the M25 junction and the A128 Ongar road bridge, again on the Colchester-bound track.

Police said two cars, a Ford Fiesta and a Renault Clio were involved in the smash, which happened just before 2.30pm. Tailbacks of more than two miles quickly built up and drivers were asked to avoid the area.

Three people were injured and were taken to Basildon General Hospital by the Essex Air Ambulance, which landed at the scene.

The driver of the Fiesta died from his injuries in hospital. Police said his name was unlikely to be announced before tomorrow due to difficulties reaching his next of kin.

The other two hurt - Fiesta passenger Frederick Donovan, 47, of Acres Lane, West Hanningfield, and Clio driver Richard Beer, 29, of Merns Place, Chelmsford - were not badly hurt.

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