A rider and her horse died in a horrific accident on the A12.

Samantha White, 24, of Kingsbury Close, Marks Tey, was in collision with a Jeep on the London-bound carriageway south of Marks Tey yesterday (Sunday) morning.

She was out riding with her 20-year-old sister and their friend on a track and fields 400 yards from the road when the friend's horse threw its rider and bolted.

A police spokeswoman said Miss White galloped after the loose horse to try to head it off, but they ended up on the carriageway.

She and her horse were in collision with a Jeep Cherokee and died at the scene.

The five adults in the vehicle were shocked but unhurt. Their vehicle finished on the central reservation. Two dogs were also inside and also unhurt.

Shortly after the accident Miss White's father arrived on the scene after hearing about the tragedy.

The police spokeswoman said: "We are not sure how he heard but we received a call from him to say he was on his way. He could not at that stage have known what had happened."

Peter King, of Damyon Kennels, Marks Tey, was the first person on the scene after the accident.

He said: "My house is about 10ft from where it happened. I heard a bang and rushed out to see what had happened. It was very distressing. We cared for the injured horse which did not die instantly, unfortunately. It died later on from its injuries."

The 20-year-old friend, from the Chelmsford area, who was thrown from her horse was not hurt. The loose horse was later caught unhurt.

The London-bound track of the A12 was closed to traffic for more than two hours, and reopened at 1.40pm.

Witnesses to the accident should contact PC Darrin Lee at Stanway traffic police on 01206 762512.

Aftermath - police at the scene of the horrific accident on the A12 at Marks Tey, which was closed to traffic for more than two hours.

Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

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