A tragic crash on the A13 in Dagenham occurred at 2:35am on Friday, 25 November, when a white van was driving the wrong way down the Essex-bound carriageway and collided with a black Toyota Prius.
The van driver ignored warnings from Essex Police and failed to stop before entering the motorway, leading to the fatal collision.
Grace Payne, aged 21 and a passenger in the Prius from Upminster, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Prius was taken to hospital but is not believed to have sustained serious injuries.
The van driver, aged 39, was also rushed to hospital with serious injuries. He has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop for police. He remains in police custody.
The Metropolitan Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is leading the inquiry into the crash. Separately, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating Essex Police’s actions prior to the incident.
Authorities are appealing for witnesses and any dashcam footage from motorists travelling on the A13 at the time of the collision.
Grace Payne’s family has paid a heartfelt tribute to her. Her parents said, “Grace’s death has left us, along with the rest of her family and friends, devastated. We are struggling to come to terms with the fact that our daughter will never be coming home.”
They described Grace as “caring, compassionate, bright, funny, bubbly – her friends always said she could brighten anyone’s day. When she left a room, everyone felt happier than before. She always wanted to help and make people happy.”
Grace loved children and dreamed of becoming a primary school teacher. Although she worked in HR, she planned to retrain at age 30. She was known for coaching juniors at Brentwood Cricket Club, often cuddling the youngest kids.
Grace graduated from the University of Kent this year with a degree in history and philosophy. She enjoyed a fun-filled summer travelling across Europe with friends, visiting places such as Italy and Barcelona, as well as family holidays in Devon and Wales.
Having recently passed her driving test and turned 21, Grace had just secured her dream job at a London architects firm. “It had been a happy, exciting, busy year. Grace was just starting to live life to the full after the Covid lockdowns. She always looked after others, making sure her friends got home safely. Last week she joined workmates for a night out. Tragically, she never made it home,” her family added.
The police investigation continues as the community mourns the loss of a bright young life cut cruelly short by a dangerous driver fleeing the law.
Originally published by UKNIP.
