3 hours ago
Tributes have been paid to two children who died after an alleged hit-and-run in Essex.
Police said officers received reports that a girl and a boy had been involved in a collision with a car on Ashlyns, in Pitsea, near Basildon, at about 6.25pm on Saturday, and that the car had failed to stop at the scene.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the children died.
Police arrested a man and woman on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision, and said both remained in custody on Sunday afternoon.
About 20 members of the local community, including children, visited the site of the crash on Sunday and left floral tributes at the junction between Ashlyns and Walthams.
One card left by a member of staff at a school read: “I’m so sorry that you have both been taken away, far too young. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone that had the joy to know you both, especially your family.”
Another read: “You were both taken too soon. You will never be forgotten.”
Local people said one of the children was old enough to attend secondary school.
Police clarified on Sunday that the crash occurred on Ashlyns, after incorrectly stating the crash happened on Walthams Place.
In a statement on Saturday evening, the temporary assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper said: “My thoughts are with the friends and family of the girl and boy who have died this evening.
“Specialist officers are supporting them at this truly unimaginably difficult time.
“Our officers will be carrying out inquiries in the area this evening to establish the circumstances which led up to the collision, so if you saw anything or have any information, please get in contact.”
A spokesperson for Essex police added: “If you saw anything, have any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage, or have any information, please get in contact with us.”
