Lorry crashes off bridge and onto A12 in Essex

Police have confirmed there were no further fatalities following the lorry crash on the A12 in Essex earlier this week.

A HGV plunged off a bridge at Witham on Wednesday 8 February, killing the driver.

Officers have spent the last couple of days checking for other victims, but are now satisfied there was only one casualty.

One lane of the A12 southbound carriageway has now reopened.

• Police confirm lorry driver died in A12 crash

Police in Essex say they're checking there were no other fatalities involved in a lorry crash earlier this week.

A HGV plunged off a bridge over the A12 at Witham and on to the road below on Wednesday. The driver was killed.

Due to the severe damage to the lorry, Essex Police said it was being searched to check for other victims.

One lane of the A12 southbound carriageway has now reopened.

• Crash lorry carrying hazardous chemicals keeps A12 shut

One lane remains closed southbound on the A12 at Witham in Essex following Wednesday's lorry crash.

There is still no access to the road at Junction 22. The HGV burst into flames after landing on the southbound carriageway, near Witham.

Read more here

• Police confirm lorry driver died in A12 crash

The A12 southbound in Essex will remain closed into this evening's rush hour after lorry veered off a bridge.

The carriageway is closed between junction 25 Marks Tey and junction 20 Hatfield Peveral.

Chief Inspector Nick Lee said: "This was a serious road traffic collision where a man died.

"The recovery operation of the lorry is complex due to the nature of the load it is carrying.

"All the emergency services involved need to be sure the vehicle can be moved safely and ensure there is no risk to the staff involved or other road users.

"We appreciate this closure will disrupt people’s journeys home from work and we are doing all we can to re-open the road as soon as possible.

"We appreciate the continued co-operation and understanding of the public.”

The London-bound carriageway of the A12 in Essex will remain closed until this evening, police have said.

A lorry carrying batteries plunged off Coleman's Bridge and onto the A12 near Witham.

There are severe delays between Junction 25 (Marks Tey) and Junction 21 (Witham South).

Police have confirmed the driver of a lorry which crashed off a bridge and onto the A12 below has died.

The lorry burst into flames after landing on the southbound carriageway, near Witham, just before 3.45pm on Wednesday.

Essex Police said a man in his 30s was pronounced dead by paramedics shortly after the crash and his next-of-kin has been informed.

The road is likely to remain closed, southbound, between Marks Tey and Boreham until lunchtime Thursday.

The A12 is expected to remain shut southbound until lunchtime today (9th February) after a lorry plunged off a bridge onto a carriageway below.

It happened at around 15:45 yesterday at Witham in Essex.

Recovery work is ongoing and the road is shut between J25 A120 Marks Tey and J19 A130 Boreham Interchange, Chelmsford.

Once the investigation has concluded Highways England will carry out any repairs and complete the recovery of the vehicle. The road will be opened as soon as it is safe to do so.

Traffic is being diverted via the A120, the A131, the A130 and back on to the A12. Road users intending on using the A12 southbound carriageway are advised to allow additional time for their journeys.

Watch Serena Sandhu's report on the A12 lorry crash