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Police hunt driver after man dies in house crash

Alex Pope
BBC News, Essex
Ellena Cruse/BBC A close up of a car which hit a house. Damage to the vehicle and wall are clearEllena Cruse/BBC
The house was struck by a car at about 04:50 BST

Police are hunting the driver of a car after a man died when the vehicle crashed into a house.

The 32-year-old man was a back seat passenger in the Mercedes, which struck a property in Bower Hill, Epping, and he died at the scene.

Essex Police said at least one other person in the car fled shortly after the crash, which happened at about 04:50 BST.

No-one in the house reported being injured, the force added.

Ellena Cruse/BBC A police officer by a house that has been damaged by a car crashing into it. There is debris on the ground. The home is a brick Edwardian style house, with Tudor style front. Ellena Cruse/BBC
Police are appealing for information following the serious crash in Bower Hill, Epping

Roads were closed to allow emergency services to continue their work, with residents warned of delays throughout the day.

People living in the area said on social media they were woken by a heavy police presence, including a helicopter.

Officers appealed for anyone with any information, including doorbell and dashcam footage, to come forward.

Ellena Cruse/BBC A police cordon, on a road, with a number of police vehicles on it, with a policeman standing to the right There are homes to the right and trees and Ellena Cruse/BBC
Local residents reported seeing a large police presence in the area

Cadent, the gas distribution network, said it was called to the incident and engineers arrived on site at about 05:30.

It said the crash had impacted the outlet pipe, so gas and electricity was turned off at the property and the home had been evacuated.

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