Police were today (Tuesday) questioning a man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the death of a south Essex man.

The suspect, aged 23, surrendered to officers at a police station last night (Monday) and was due to be transferred today to Grays police station for questioning by detectives and traffic officers.

A police spokesman said a 25-year-old woman had also been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. She has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The arrests follow the death at around midnight on Saturday of 17-year-old Steve Simpson, after he was in collision with a BMW on the A127 at Basildon.

Today (Tuesday), his friend Anthony Gorman told how he cradled his dying pal in his arms after the accident.

Steve and Anthony were making their way to a party after taking a shortcut from Festival Leisure Park with other friends when tragedy struck at about midnight on Saturday.

Anthony, 17, of Norwich Walk, Basildon, last night laid flowers at the scene with Steve's 14-year-old girlfriend Stacey Brown.

He said: "Steve was a really good mate. To have this happen is just unbelievable - it is a total shock to us all. We both crossed the road and came back for a friend, when Steve jumped over the barrier and was hit by the car.

"I tried to pull him back out of the path of the car but it was just too late. I cradled his head in my arms. He didn't say anything.

"We were just a bunch of normal teenagers going out to have a good time. I still can't believe what's happened."

Steve and Anthony met a party in Basildon about four years ago and have been good friends ever since.

He said: "We just got on really well. We used to go to Sega Park in town and play amusement games a lot together.

"He was a really good friend and very popular with everyone. I had not seen him for a few weeks but he turned-up Friday and Saturday night to spend some time with us."

Stacey was too upset to talk about the incident.

United by grief - Anthony Gorman with Stacey Brown, the 14-year-old girlfriend of tragic road accident victim Steve Simpson

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.