A woman has died after a car crash with another vehicle travelling on the wrong side of a carriageway early this morning.
Essex Police officers had requested a white van to stop at about 2.30am but, after it failed to do so, followed the vehicle while staying on the correct side of the road.
The van was then involved in a serious crash with an oncoming car, of which a female passenger died despite efforts of officers and medics at the scene.
Footage shared to social media showed the van driving at a high speed against oncoming traffic shortly before the collision.
The force said it has referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), which has since launched an investigation.
No arrests have yet been confirmed.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, Essex Police gold commander, said: "Shortly after 2.30am this morning, Friday 25 November, a vehicle failed to stop when requested by officers on the A13 in Essex.
"Officers then remained in the proximity of that vehicle as it travelled on the A13 near Rainham.
"The vehicle was then involved in a serious collision with another vehicle.
"Despite the best efforts of officers and medics at the scene, a female passenger in the second vehicle has now died.
"We are currently working with our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police Service who, at this stage, are leading the response to the incident.
"As is appropriate, we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct which has declared an independent investigation."
The road closure has caused severe traffic delays this morning, with the road completely closed and queues stretching up to four miles long.
The M25 and A127 have also been affected, with lengthy queues.
The IOPC confirmed that the vehicle being followed was driving down the wrong side of the carriageway.
A spokesperson for the police watchdog told the Mirror: “We are investigating the circumstances of a fatal crash overnight on the A13 near Rainham, east London.
"At this early stage, we were advised that a vehicle failed to stop for Essex Police officers before it travelled on to the A13 in Essex at around 2.30am.
"We have established that the vehicle travelled down the wrong side of the carriageway, with officers following the vehicle on the correct side of the A13, before the vehicle was involved in a collision with an oncoming vehicle.
"Tragically a passenger in the second vehicle has died at the scene. We were notified at around 4.20am and declared an independent investigation shortly after.
"We have sent investigators to the crash scene and to the police post-incident procedures where the officers involved provided their initial accounts. Our investigation is in its initial stages."
The Mirror has contacted the Met Police, which is leading the investigation into the collision, for comment.
