A teenage girl is in a critical condition in hospital after an incident involving a small articulated loading vehicle in a Southend park, Essex Police have said.
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in connection with the incident. An 18-year-old man from Westcliff and a 17-year-old boy from Leigh-on-Sea remain in custody for questioning, police confirmed.
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday, June 13, at approximately 12.30am in the Chalkwell Park area. According to Essex Police, a group was reported to have taken unauthorised control of a small articulated loading vehicle. The teenage girl is believed to have been involved in an incident with the vehicle and sustained significant injuries. Paramedics attended promptly and took her to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition. A police cordon remains in place at the scene, and her family is being supported by officers.
The circumstances surrounding the unauthorised taking of the vehicle are at the centre of the investigation. Police have not disclosed how the group came to take control of the machine, which is a type of small articulated vehicle typically used for loading and moving materials on construction or industrial sites. Officers are working to establish the sequence of events that led to the girl being injured. The two arrested individuals are being questioned in connection with the alleged dangerous driving of the vehicle.
Witness appeal
Essex Police are urgently appealing for witnesses, particularly among the large number of young people believed to have been in the Chalkwell Park area at the time of the incident. The force is asking anyone with information or video footage to come forward. Information can be provided by calling 101, using the live chat service on the Essex Police website at www.essex.police.uk, or by submitting a report online, quoting incident number 39 of June 13.
Chalkwell Park is a 27-hectare recreational park in Southend-on-Sea, featuring ornamental gardens, playgrounds, sports facilities including football, cricket, tennis and basketball courts, as well as a skateboard and BMX park. The park also houses the arts organisation Metal and regularly hosts events. It was the scene of a separate tragedy last year when a seven-year-old girl was killed and her six-year-old cousin injured after a tree fell on them.
Daniel Cowan, the leader of Southend Council, described the latest incident as “deeply concerning” and said his thoughts were with the injured girl and her family. Southend West MP David Burton-Sampson stated he was aware of the incident and is being kept informed by Essex Police and the council leader, sending his wishes for the girl’s recovery.
