A footbridge across the M11 remains closed following a crash in which a man died after his van veered off the Essex motorway and hit a tree yesterday as police treat the incident as suspicious.

%image(15373151, type="article-full", alt="Police on Goose Lane bridge, which goes over the M11 near Birchanger, following a fatal crash. Picture: JOHN STILLWELL/PA WIRE")

Police investigating the collision have discovered an object, “which appears to be a lump of concrete” had struck the windscreen of the vehicle before the incident.

Emergency services were called to the northbound carriageway of the M11 near Birchanger, a village close to Stansted Airport, around 4.50pm on Wednesday. A volunteer critical care paramedic from Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) also attended.

A van had left the road and collided with a tree. The driver, a man aged in his 60s, died at the scene.

The M11 northbound between the junctions for Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford was closed for several hours.

%image(15373867, type="article-full", alt="Police on Goose Lane bridge which goes over the M11 motorway near Birchanger which is closed after a van driver was killed in a motorway crash after what "appears to be a lump of concrete" struck his windscreen. Picture: JOHN STILLWELL/PA WIRE")

The Goose Lane bridge, and footpath leading to the bridge – which links Woodside Green and Wright’s Green – remain closed.

Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes and to give extra time for their journeys.

Officers want to speak to motorists who were travelling in the area between 4-6pm, or saw anyone acting suspiciously on the Goose Lane bridge.

To help, contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01245 240590 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk