A driver died when his car was crushed beneath an overturned articulated lorry in a five-vehicle crash on the A120 yesterday.

Emergency services rushed to the accident near Dunmow but were unable to save the car driver who was certified dead at the scene by a doctor.

The dead person, believed to be a man, has not been formally identified by investigating officers.

Police were unable to confirm whether anyone else was in the crushed car. Another lorry, a second car and a van were also involved in the incident.

A lorry driver was taken to Broomfield Hospital for treatment but later released.

The accident happened at around 5.30am. The wreckage totally blocked the road causing major rush-hour chaos.

The road, used by thousands of mid-Essex commuters every day, was completely blocked and was not re-opened until early yesterday afternoon.

Police closed the road between the Tesco roundabout and Four Ashes traffic lights in both directions as they launched an accident investigation.

Traffic was diverted along the A1060 and B184 through the Rodings and Hatfield Broad Oak, affecting thousands of commuters as they tried to get on to the M11.

A police spokeswoman said experts were examining the crash vehicles at the scene. A minor accident on the B184 added to traffic delays.

The fatality happened less than 24-hours after a double road death on the M11 on Monday. A mother and her young son were killed in a horrific five-vehicle pile-up on the M11 involving an HGV and four cars.

The smash happened just after 11.30am on the northbound carriageway near Stansted. One of the cars was discovered down an embankment.

Three children were taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, two of them with serious injuries.

A man was also said to be badly injured and was being treated in hospital. None of the dead have been identified.

Crash scene - the overturned lorry lying across the A120 near Dunmow

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