A TEENAGE girl was killed and her father seriously injured when the motorcycle they were riding was in collision with a car.The 15-year-old girl, who was riding pillion on the bike, was certified dead at the scene of the accident which happened on Mersea Road in Colchester, near to Weir Lane.

By Roddy Ashworth

A TEENAGE girl was killed and her father seriously injured when the motorcycle they were riding was in collision with a car.

The 15-year-old girl, who was riding pillion on the bike, was certified dead at the scene of the accident which happened on Mersea Road in Colchester, near to Weir Lane.

Her father was taken to Colchester General Hospital suffering from serious leg injuries.

The youngster has not yet been named by police as they want to ensure all relatives have been informed of the accident.

It is understood the pair were from the Tendring area and were heading from Colchester towards Mersea.

The crash happened at around 8pm on Tuesday when the black Honda motorcycle they were riding was in collision with a green Landrover Freelander.

The driver of the Freelander, who lives in Chelmsford, suffered from shock but was otherwise uninjured.

Police are appealing for another motorcyclist, thought to have overtaken the Honda in the moments leading up the crash, to come forward with information.

Anyone else who saw either vehicle before the collision or witnessed the accident itself is asked to contact Pc Paul Barry at Stanway Traffic Unit on 01206 762512.

A police spokesman said: “We would like anybody who might have seen the motorcycle or the Freelander prior to the collision to give us information.

“In particular we would like to hear from the motorcyclist near to the scene at the time it happened.”

The girl's death brings the number of people to have died on the roads of Essex this year to 48. Of those deaths, 13 involved motorcycles.

roddy.ashworth@eadt.co.uk