A teenage girl has become the first victim of the torrential rain which has caused chaos across south Essex.

She was killed when the car she was driving was involved in a horrific head-on crash on part of the A128 at Bulphan which had been badly hit by flooding.

Water world - the flooded A128 Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Police experts were today trying to establish what part the weather played in the crash, which happened during heavy rain at 1pm yesterday.

The girl, in her late teens, was travelling towards the A127 when her white Renault Clio was involved in the collision with a Ford Mondeo travelling the opposite way.

A 42-year-old man, from Little Wakering, was cut free from the wreckage of the Mondeo and taken to Basildon Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

His wife and two children escaped unhurt. Police closed the A128 while emergency crews dealt with the incident.

They are keen to speak with motorists who were using the road between 12.30pm and 1pm yesterday - call Laindon road policing unit on 01268 541312.

A spokesman for Essex Police said driving conditions were "absolutely horrific''.

Meanwhile, Environment Agency officials said riverlevels remained high in south Essex, with the worst-affected areas around Basildon and Wickford.

"There has been some isolated flooding to property," a spokesman said.

Published Thursday, January 2, 2003

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