A horrific car crash in which four people died left the vehicle so badly damaged the police initially couldn’t tell what model it was, a report suggests.
The car smashed into a building in Magdalen Street, Colchester, Essex, in the early hours of Saturday (February 1), according to police.
The four people killed in the crash were named by police on Sunday as University of Essex students Makyle Bayley, Eva Darold-Tchikaya, Anthony Hibbert and Daljang Wol. All four died at the scene, according to Essex Police.
Essex Police said on Saturday that their families are being supported by specialist officers. This afternoon the force urged anyone who saw a black Ford Focus driven in or near Magdalen Street to get in touch, adding police do not believe other vehicles were involved.
The car hit the corner of a building housing a secondhand shop and Thai massage parlour. Police were called to reports of the crash at 4.40am.
The road was closed for nearly 24 hours as officers from Essex Police investigated. Witnesses to the scene have said debris from the building was visible some 50 yards from the crash site.
Builder, Mike Davies, 66, from Colchester, claimed police told him the car was so badly damaged inside the building that they were unable to tell what make or model it was.
He added: “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.”
Mr Davies told MailOnline there was a “huge smash” and locals tried to help but couldn’t.
Retired taxi driver Colin Beattie, 78, said: “I am deaf in one ear, but I still heard an almighty bang. I saw all the blue flashing lights of emergency vehicles. There were ambulances, fire engines and police by the dozen.
“The car landed up on its side in the building. It looked a real mess, so it must have been hurtling down the road. There were bits and pieces all down the road.”
Jodie Graves, 42, was woken by the sound of the crash. She told MailOnline it was so loud she thought she was dreaming until she heard her husband on the phone to the police.
When officers visited Ms Graves and her husband they recommended they didn’t look at the scene.
Richard Kirkby-Taylor, a councillor at Colchester Borough Council, suggested the car was on the wrong side of the road and hit the building at speed.
He said: “I want to pass on my deepest condolences to the families. My heart really goes out to them. It is absolutely heartbreaking.”
Brian Amey, 80, runs the secondhand shop in the building, while his partner, Fai Hatcher, 51, runs the Thai massage parlour.
Mr Amey said the shop is wrecked but that was insignificant when considering four lives have been lost. Ms Hatcher described what happened as “just terrible”.
Temporary Asst Ch Cons Stuart Hooper from Essex Police said: “I want to extend my condolences to the friends and family of Makyle, Eva, Anthony, and Daljang. This will be an incredibly difficult time for them and we have specialist officers supporting them.
“Our specialist Serious Collision Investigation Unit is investigating what led up to the collision but at this stage we do not believe any other vehicles were involved.
“I again want to thank all the attending emergency services for their efforts to maintain the dignity of those who died and to the community for their support and co-operation. If you have any information about what happened, please contact us.”
Anyone with information, CCTV, dashcam or other footage relating to the incident has been asked to contact the force, quoting incident 179 of 1 February, or to contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.