Three people have been killed in a car crash on the A13 near Rainham.
Emergency services were called to the busy road shortly after 10pm on Monday to reports of a road traffic collision.
Police attended along with paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade and discovered three vehicles were found to have been involved in the collision.
Essex Police confirmed that three people died at the scene and a fourth person was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
An Essex Police spokesperson previously said they were assisting the Metropolitan Police following the collision.
The force added that the road was shut just past the Lakeside turning towards London.
An Essex Police spokesperson told the Standard: "Police were called to the A13 in Wennington Marshes, Rainham, shortly after 22.00hrs on Monday, 15 July to reports of a road traffic collision. Officers attended along with paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade.
"Three vehicles were found to have been involved in a collision. Sadly, three people died at the scene. A further person was taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening."