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Speaking to the Mirror, an eyewitness to yesterday’s tragic events in Colchester revealed the scene was so horrendous police were forced to erect a temporary platform to recover the victims’ bodies
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Colchester: Police cordon at scene of fatal car crash
Four people were killed inside a car which was “left completely unrecognisable” in a horrific early morning car crash this weekend.
Firefighters even had to build a temporary wooden platform just to free the bodies of the driver and three passengers from the wrecked car.
The destroyed vehicle was embedded deep into the walls of a second-hand shop in Colchester, Essex.
Eye-witnesses said the car had been travelling at “high speed” and “on the wrong side of the road” before the accident at 4.40am yesterday.
Unconfirmed reports said the four dead were students – three men and one woman.
Mike Davies, 66, a builder from Colchester, said: “It’s my friend’s shop.
“Police told me the car was so badly damaged inside the building they couldn’t even tell what make or model it was.
“They had to construct a temporary wooden platform to be able to take it out.
“They even had to bring in a JCB to help get it freed.
“The building is completely wrecked.”
He added: “I’ve spoken to several people who said the car was going at high speed on the wrong side of the road.
“There was a huge smash and everyone came out to try and help but they couldn’t.
“There was a huge number of police cars, fire engines and ambulances here.”
Speaking yesterday, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable, Stuart Hooper, said: “My thoughts, and those of everyone at Essex Police, is with the friends and families of the four people who died.
“I want to thank the businesses and residents in Magdalen Street area for their support and understanding today in what has been a really difficult and tragic situation.
“I always want to pay tribute to emergency services personnel who have worked diligently, professionally, and compassionately to ensure the dignity of those who have died.
“Our enquiries to establish what led up to the collision are ongoing and I need anyone with information to contact us.”
Essex Police confirmed officers were called to Magdalen Street in the city in the early hours of Saturday morning to reports of a crash.
Four people died at the scene, but authorities have so far been unable to identify them or provide additional information as the investigation continues.
