A man has died and three people have been seriously injured following a crash near Chelmsford.

Officers were called shortly after 1pm yesterday (Saturday) following a collision between two cars on the southbound carriageway of the A1114, Essex Yeomanry Way, at Great Baddow.

Firefighters had to cut four people from the vehicles. One person died and three people received serious injuries.

Both north and southbound carriageways were closed until later in the afternoon for recovery and for police investigations to be carried out.

Today police revealed further details of the incident and pleaded for people to come forward with any information into the tragedy.

A nine-month-old baby boy escaped unharmed.

He was strapped in a baby seat in the rear of a red Ford Fiesta which had been travelling north towards Chelmsford but crossed the central reservation and struck a black Vauxhall Vectra travelling south.

A 20-year-old man from South Woodham Ferrers, who was a passenger in the Fiesta, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 18-year-old female driver, also from South Woodham Ferrers, received serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Royal London Hospital. Her condition today was said to be critical but stable.

The Vectra driver, a 64-year-old woman from the Chelmsford area, remains in Broomfield Hospital where her condition was described as stable.

Her passenger, a 68-year-old woman also from the Chelmsford area, is at Addenbrookes’ Hospital, in Cambridge, where her condition was said to be serious but stable.

The baby boy was taken to Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, as a precaution but was released today into the care of relatives.

Any witnesses who have not yet contacted police, or anyone with information about any events leading to the incident, should contact the investigating officer Pc Pete Harris at the Essex Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk