A woman has died and a man is in a critical condition in hospital after a three-vehicle crash in north-east Essex today. Police have arrested two men from Colchester in connection with the incident.

A black Honda motorbike, a white Mercedes Sprinter van, and a white Ford Transit van were involved in a collision in Ashes Road in Cressing, near Braintree, at around 1pm today. Emergency services including an air ambulance were called to the scene.

This evening, police said a woman in her late 40s, believed to be from the Braintree area, died at the scene. She was one of two riders on the Honda motorbike. The other, a man in his 50s, has been airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in a critical condition.

No other serious injuries have been reported by police.

Two men, aged 44 and 70 and both from Colchester, have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury.

The road has been closed to allow police to carry out an investigation at the scene.

Witnesses, including those with possible dash cam footage, are urged to call Essex Police’s serious collision investigation unit on 101.

Essex Police said in a statement this evening: “A woman has died and a man is in a critical condition in hospital following a collision in Cressing.

“The woman, aged in her late 40s, and the man, were on a black Honda motorcycle which was involved in a collision in Ashes Road, Cressing, just before 1pm this afternoon, Monday, August 14.

“Sadly the woman, believed to be from the Braintree area, was declared dead at the scene. The man, aged in his 50s, was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where (he) remains in a critical condition.

“The collision also involved a white Mercedes Sprinter van and a white Ford Transit van.

“Two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. They are aged 44 from Colchester and 70 from Colchester.

“Unfortunately the road remains closed for initial investigations to be completed and the road to be cleared.

“Witnesses or anyone with information or dash cam footage is asked to contact the serious collision investigation unit on 101 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.”

The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance said in a statement: “On August 14 2017, an Essex & Herts Air Ambulance was tasked to assist EEAST (East of England Ambulance Service Trust), Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service with a multiple patient road traffic collision.

“Teams worked together on scene to optimise patient outcome. The patient was transferred to a specialist hospital for ongoing treatment.”