. The woman had been out to party and was a passenger at the time when the vehicle ploughed head-on into the friend’s Black BMW. She died at the scene on the A13 in Dagenham after the vehicle she was a passenger in was involved in a serious crash with a car fleeing police. Essex Police requested a car to stop on the A13 shortly after 2.30am this morning (November 25), however, the vehicle failed to stop.

The van driver who had to be cut free from the wreckage has been arrested for a number of offences one of them being death by dangerous driving. He remains in the hospital with serious injuries having been pulled from the wreckage by firefighters.

Officers had perused the vehicle along the A13 near Rainham,  on the Londonbound carriage as officers tried in vain to stop the vehicle but the pursued vehicle crashed into another vehicle on the road killing a female passenger, Essex police have said. The incident has been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) for an investigation.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Packer, Essex Police gold commander at the time of the incident, said: “Shortly after 2.30am this morning, Friday, November 25, a vehicle failed to stop when requested by officers on the A13 in Essex. Officers then remained in the proximity of that vehicle as it travelled on the A13 near Rainham.

“The vehicle was then involved in a serious collision with another vehicle. Despite the best efforts of officers and medics at the scene, a female passenger in the second vehicle has now died. We are currently working with our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police Service who, at this stage, are leading the response to the incident.

“As is appropriate, we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct, which has confirmed it will carry out an independent investigation.”

The road closure has caused severe traffic delays this morning, with the road completely closed queues have built up past Rainham on the London-bound carriageway up to four miles long and into Barking on the other side. The M25 and A127 have also been affected, with lengthy queues.

The Metropolitan Police Service and London Ambulance Service have both been contacted for comment.