A refuse worker employed by Thurrock Council has died following a collision between the waste collection vehicle he was travelling in and a heavy goods vehicle (HGV).

Police were called to Oliver Close in Grays, Essex at approximately 7.45 on Wednesday (18 February) morning, following reports that a refuse collection vehicle and an HGV had been involved in a collision.

Ambulance crews had also been called to the incident, but despite receiving treatment, a man died at the scene. He had been a passenger in the refuse vehicle. Two other council employees were taken to Basildon Hospital for assessment, but were not seriously hurt.

Oliver Close was closed for several hours while forensic investigations took place. Essex Police then arrested a 40-year-old man from Grays on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries until May 20, 2015. It has not been revealed which vehicle he was driving.

Council to undertake inquiry

The council has said it is ‘committed to co-operating fully with that inquiry as well as carrying out its own’.

Leader of Thurrock Council, Councillor John Kent, who visited the council’s waste depot following the incident, said: “At this sad time our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of the man who died and the two who were injured.

“We are also concerned for the welfare of all staff and have arranged for counsellors to be available at the depot for any workers who may feel the need to discuss what happened with them.”

The police are now calling for any witnesses or anyone with ‘information about the circumstances leading to the collision’ to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.