Two individuals have been taken into custody on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following an incident involving a loading vehicle that left a teenage girl in critical condition at a hospital.
Incident Details
Police responded to the Chalkwell Park area of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday after receiving reports of an incident involving a 'small articulated loading vehicle.'
A spokesperson for Essex Police confirmed that the girl sustained 'significant injuries' and remains hospitalized, with her family receiving support.
Arrests Made
An 18-year-old man from Westcliff and a 17-year-old boy from Leigh-on-Sea have been arrested and are currently in custody for questioning.
The spokesperson elaborated: 'A group was reported to have taken unauthorised control of a small articulated loading vehicle. The girl is believed to have been involved in an incident with the vehicle and sustained significant injuries. Officers and ambulance crews attended promptly, and a cordon remains in place. Paramedics took the girl to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.'
Appeal for Witnesses
Authorities are urging anyone with information or footage of the incident to come forward. The spokesperson added: 'We know there were a large number of young people in the area at the time, and we believe some may have witnessed what happened. We urgently need to hear from anyone with information or footage.'
Previous Incident
The park was the site of a fatal accident last year when a seven-year-old girl was killed and her six-year-old cousin injured after a tree fell on them.
