A man was killed and his teenage passenger is fighting for his life after a head-on road smash.

The 20-year-old man was driving an Austin Maestro along Runwell Road in Wickford when it crashed into a Ford Mondeo at 8.45pm last night (Sunday).

His 19-year-old passenger is suffering serious internal injuries and has been transferred to a specialist hospital in London. Hewas today (Monday) in a critical condition. Both men are from the Rettendon area.

Two other passengers in the car had cuts and bruising and are being treated for shock.

A husband and wife travelling in the Mondeo, also from the Rettendon area, are suffered cuts and bruising. The man driving the car has a cracked vertebrae and is being treated for whiplash.

Sgt Russ Abbott, of Laindon traffic police, said: "It appears the Maestro was trying to overtake when it collided head-on with the Mondeo travelling in the opposite direction.

"There were quite a few people at the scene minutes after the accident and we have taken several statements from witnesses. But we would still like to hear from anyone who may have seen what happened.

"At this stage the passenger in the Maestro is in a very serious condition. This was a dreadful accident especially at this time of year."

He added: "We know of two fatals along the same road in the last 12 months. It is a real blackspot."

He said the husband and wife in the Mondeo do not have life threatening injuries but are deeply shocked and traumatised.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01268 541312

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