POLICE are today appealing for information after two separate horrific accidents on the roads of Essex in less than 24 hours left a man and a woman dead.

Elliot Furniss

POLICE are today appealing for information after two separate horrific accidents on the roads of Essex in less than 24 hours left a man and a woman dead.

In the first accident, which happened in the early hours of yesterday morning, a 36-year-old man was killed when he was in collision with a lorry on the A12 at Kelvedon.

In the second a 96-year-old woman died after a collision with a green Peugeot 206 in Marine Parade West, Clacton.

Last night police appealed for anyone who may have witnessed the accidents to come forward and help them with their investigation.

The first accident happened shortly before 3.30am and it is believed the victim may have been walking alongside or on the London-bound carriageway of the A12.

The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was involved in a collision with a Daf box van and died at the scene.

The fatality happened on the Kelvedon bypass and the nearby slip road was closed for about three hours while officers examined the scene.

A diversion was put in place and the road was re-opened by 6am.

The second fatal accident happened in Clacton when a 96-year-old woman was in collision with a green Peugeot 206 in Marine Parade West, near the junction with Tower Road at 10.30am.

The Essex Air Ambulance flew the victim from the scene to Queen's Hospital in Romford - which specialises in head injuries - where she died yesterday afternoon.

The driver of the Peugeot, an 84-year-old local man, was shaken but uninjured and did not need hospital treatment.

He was driving in the direction of Holland-on-Sea when the accident happened and the pedestrian was thought to be crossing the road towards the seafront.

Police closed the road for around four hours as an examination of the scene was carried out and made an urgent appeal for witnesses to the collision to get in touch.

Pc Roger Manser, of Stanway Road Policing Unit, said: “The thing we really need for both of these accidents is for witnesses to come forward.

“I am sure there were people who saw them happen and we really need to hear from them.

“We would like to talk to people who saw the actual collision but also anyone who saw the pedestrians just prior to the collisions.”

Anyone with information about either crash is urged to contact officers at Stanway Road Policing Unit on 01206 762512.