Tragic A13 Crash: Van Driving Wrong Way Kills Young Woman
A fatal collision rocked the A13 in Dagenham at 2:35am on Friday, 25 November. A white van, heading the wrong way down the Essex-bound carriageway, slammed into a black Toyota Prius. The van driver ignored Essex Police warnings and failed to stop before entering the motorway.
Grace Payne Loses Life in Horror Smash
Grace Payne, 21, a passenger in the Prius from Upminster, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. The Prius driver is in hospital but is not believed to be seriously injured. The van’s driver, 39, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries and has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop for police. He remains in custody.
Police Probe and IOPC Investigation Underway
- The Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is leading the crash probe.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is separately investigating Essex Police’s role prior to the crash.
- Officers are appealing for witnesses and any dashcam footage from motorists on the A13.
Family Pay Heartbreaking Tribute to Grace
“Grace’s death has left us, along with the rest of her family and friends, devastated. We are struggling to come to terms with the fact that our daughter will never be coming home,” her parents said.
“How can we describe Grace? She made us proud in so many ways. She was caring, compassionate, bright, funny, bubbly – her friends always said she could brighten anyone’s day. When she left a room, everyone felt happier than before. She always wanted to help and make people happy.”
Grace loved children and dreamed of becoming a primary school teacher. She worked in HR but planned to retrain at 30. She was known for coaching juniors at Brentwood Cricket Club, often cuddling the youngest kids.
Grace graduated from the University of Kent this year in history and philosophy. She enjoyed a fun-filled summer travelling Europe with friends – from Italy to Barcelona – plus family holidays in Devon and Wales. She had just passed her driving test, turned 21, and landed her dream job at a London architects firm.
“It had been a happy, exciting, busy year. Grace was just starting to live life to the full after the Covid lockdowns. She always looked after others, making sure her friends got home safely. Last week she joined workmates for a night out. Tragically, she never made it home.”
The police investigation continues as the community mourns the loss of a bright young life cut cruelly short by a dangerous driver fleeing the law.
