Two people are in custody tonight after a 12-year-old boy died from injuries sustained when he was hit by a vehicle in Pilgrims Hatch, Essex, police have confirmed.
Arrests and Death
Essex Police officers were called to Ashwells Road at approximately 5.40pm on Sunday, June 7, following reports of a collision involving a child. The boy was taken to hospital with what police described as “very serious injuries” and died later that evening. A murder investigation was subsequently launched, leading to the arrest of a 15-year-old boy and a 43-year-old man, both from the Pilgrims Hatch area, on suspicion of murder. Both suspects remain in police custody.
Murder Investigation Complexities
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, of the Essex and Kent serious crime directorate, stressed that the case is far from straightforward. “By its very nature, this is an evolving investigation which has a number of complexities and will take some time to work through and cannot be rushed,” she said. Metcalfe explained that officers are “working hard to build a full picture of the circumstances” surrounding the incident and thanked members of the public who have already provided accounts. The decision to treat the death as a murder rather than a road traffic collision signals that detectives are examining factors beyond a simple accident, including the possibility that the vehicle was used deliberately or that the driver’s actions amounted to unlawful killing. Police have not disclosed further details about the vehicle or the precise sequence of events, but the complexity of such investigations often involves forensic analysis of the vehicle, reconstruction of the collision, and examination of any witness statements or CCTV footage from the hours before and after the incident.
To assist with the inquiry, Essex Police have set up a dedicated public portal and are urging residents in Pilgrims Hatch to review any CCTV footage they may have from 8am on Sunday, June 7, through to 7pm. DCI Metcalfe added: “Although we remain in the early stages of this investigation, we are confident this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing risk to the community.”
Community Impact and Appeals
The death has deeply affected the local area. Chief Inspector Terry Fisher, Brentwood district commander, acknowledged the likely impact, saying: “I’m acutely aware that this incident is likely to have a significant impact in our community, and I know the investigation team is doing everything possible to fully understand the circumstances and progress this appropriately.” He appealed for restraint, adding: “The loss of a child is every parent’s nightmare, and I would ask that this family’s privacy is fully respected at this time, both in person and online.” Fisher also confirmed that key local partners have been updated on the incident and are providing support.
The Pilgrims Hatch area has previously seen other police investigations. In March 2025, Essex Police investigated the discovery of a man’s body in Lincolns Lane, though that was not treated as a murder inquiry. In September 2024, a cyclist suffered serious injuries in a crash on the same road, with police suspecting waste in the road may have been a factor. A hit-and-run in May 2020, in which a man in his 30s was struck near the junction of Warescroft Road and Ongar Road, also prompted a police appeal. Elsewhere in Essex, a nine-year-old child was hit by a car in Chelmsford in December 2025, and a woman in her 60s died in a fatal collision in Buckhurst Hill in December 2024, with police seeking a vehicle that failed to stop. In January 2026, five emergency service personnel were injured when a van struck them on the A130 while they were attending a separate road accident.
Ashwells Road is likely to remain closed in the immediate term, and motorists have been asked to avoid the area.
