Four killed in horror crash were ‘university students returning home from night out’ before car ploughed into building

FOUR radical who died erstwhile their car careered up a pavement and ploughed into a gathering are said to person been students returning from a nighttime out.

The victims ware believed to beryllium 3 men and a pistillate aged successful their 20s who were studying astatine the University of Essex successful Colchester.

All of them died astatine the country of the suspected precocious velocity crash.

The mishap happened astatine 4.40am connected Saturday erstwhile the operator went up the incorrect broadside of the roadworthy and mounted the pavement, hitting a acceptable of ceramic steps extracurricular a house.

The car past became embedded successful the country of a gathering containing a 2nd manus store and a Thai massage parlour successful Magdalen Street, Colchester.

The interaction was truthful large that bricks and debris was dispersed up to 50 yards up the road, according to shocked witnesses.

The roadworthy remained closed for 22 hours portion Essex Police began an investigation.

Mike Davies, 66, a builder from Colchester, said: "Police told maine the car was truthful severely damaged wrong the gathering they couldn't adjacent archer what marque oregon exemplary it was.

"They had to conception a impermanent woody level to beryllium capable to instrumentality it out. They adjacent had to bring successful a JCB to assistance get it freed. The gathering is wholly wrecked."

He added: "I've spoken to respective radical who said the car was going astatine precocious velocity connected the incorrect broadside of the road.

"There was a immense smash and everyone came retired to effort and assistance but they couldn't.

"There was a immense fig of constabulary cars, occurrence engines and ambulances here."

Retired taxi operator Colin Beattie, 78, who lives adjacent said: "I americium deaf successful 1 ear, but I inactive heard an almighty bang.

"I saw each the bluish flashing lights of exigency vehicles. There were ambulances, occurrence engines and constabulary by the dozen.

"The car landed up connected its broadside successful the building. It looked a existent mess, truthful it indispensable person been hurtling down the road.

"There were bits and pieces each down the road."

Another nonmigratory Jodie Graves, 42, who was woken by the crash, said: "It was truthful large that I thought I was dreaming until I saw my hubby connected the telephone to the police.

"When the constabulary knocked for america astatine astir 5am, we had enactment down the blinds. That was erstwhile they said, 'I urge you don't look retired there'. It was conscionable surreal – we were told not to look."

"I was impressed by conscionable however nonrecreational they each were. They person got their designated roles, and they were moving non-stop each day."

Alan Bolster, 44, said a constabulary portion had placed the wreckage of the car successful a woody container earlier it was taken distant connected a debased loader.

He said: "We had to adjacent the blinds again, truthful we didn't spot thing we didn't privation to see. The car was perfectly totalled."

Colchester borough councillor Kirkby Taylor said: "The car was wholly trashed and took retired a large chunk of the building.

"Police had to bring successful engineers to stabilise it and had to region astir of the frontage aft the crash.

"It indispensable person been connected the incorrect broadside of the road. It deed the acceptable of steps earlier taking retired a motion and a bollard, and hitting the gathering astatine speed.

"I privation to walk connected my deepest condolences to the families. My bosom truly goes retired to them. It is perfectly heartbreaking."

Brian Amey, 80, who runs Dusty's 2nd manus store successful the building, said: "The store is wrecked and we person mislaid our livelihood - but that is insignificant erstwhile you deliberation of 4 lives being lost.

"We are desperately hoping that the gathering tin beryllium saved, and we are waiting to find retired if that is possible."

Mr Amey opened his concern astir three-years-ago selling 2nd manus bikes, lawnmowers and items specified arsenic crockery.

His spouse Fai Hatcher, 51, who runs the SP Thai Massage and Therapy parlour successful the aforesaid building, said: "It is conscionable terrible.

"We rented the gathering and it is present destroyed. We privation to transportation connected working, but we don't cognize if we volition beryllium capable to travel back."

An Essex Police connection said: "We were called soon earlier 4.40am connected Saturday to reports a conveyance had been successful collision with a gathering successful Magdalen Street.

"Emergency services attended but, sadly, 4 radical died astatine the scene. Their families person been informed and volition beryllium supported by specializer officers.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: "My thoughts, and those of everyone astatine Essex Police, is with the friends and families of the 4 radical who died.

"I privation to convey the businesses and residents successful Magdalen Street country for their enactment and knowing contiguous successful what has been a truly hard and tragic situation.

"I ever privation to wage tribute to exigency services unit who person worked diligently, professionally, and compassionately to guarantee the dignity of those who person died.

"Our enquiries to found what led up to the collision are ongoing and I request anyone with accusation to interaction us."

Essex Police are asking for assistance from with information, CCTV, dashcam oregon different footage successful narration to the incident.

Submit reports connected the online Live Chat work connected the Essex Police website which is disposable 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week.

Please punctuation incidental 179 of 1 February.

Alternatively, interaction autarkic foundation Crimestoppers anonymously, by visiting their website oregon by calling 0800 555 111.