An 18-year-old woman tragically passed away after being struck by a loading lorry in a park, which authorities stated was unlawfully taken by a group of individuals. The incident occurred in the Chalkwell Park vicinity of Southend during the early hours of Saturday, June 13, resulting in the woman sustaining severe injuries and being swiftly transported to a hospital.
Essex Police disclosed that two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, have been apprehended on suspicion of causing serious injury due to reckless driving and have been released on bail. Authorities are urging any witnesses present during the event to step forward and aid in the investigation, as there was a significant gathering of young people in the area at the time of the accident.
In a statement released by Essex Police, it was stated: “A teenager who suffered severe injuries in a vehicle-related incident in Southend has unfortunately passed away. Police responded to the Chalkwell Park area around 12:30 am on Saturday, June 13, following reports of unauthorized control over a small articulated loading vehicle by a group of individuals.”
The statement continued: “An 18-year-old woman sustained substantial injuries during the incident in Chalkwell Park. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she has tragically succumbed to her injuries, and our officers are providing ongoing support to her family. Our investigation into the incident is ongoing.”
The statement further mentioned: “An 18-year-old man from Westcliff and a 17-year-old boy, arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury due to dangerous driving, remain on bail until September. We are aware that numerous young individuals were present in the area at the time, and we believe that some may have witnessed the event. It is crucial for anyone with information that we have not yet spoken to, to come forward.”
Authorities emphasized: “If you have any information, you can reach us by filing a report on our website, using our 24/7 Live Chat service at www.essex.police.uk, or by dialing 101 and quoting incident 39 of June 13.”
Following the incident, many individuals have expressed their sorrow on social media over the woman’s passing. Messages of condolences and sympathy flooded platforms like Facebook, with one user expressing, “So devastating for all involved. My thoughts are with the girl’s family & friends,” while another wrote, “So sad, my thoughts are with her family xxx.” Another commenter added, “God bless her, thoughts with her family and friends.”
