Girl, 18, dies after being hit by 'stolen digger driven by teenagers' in park

By MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) Published: 15:00, 19 June 2026 | Updated: 15:07, 19 June 2026 An 18-year-old girl has died six days after being hit in a park by a loading vehicle which was allegedly stolen and driven by a group of teenagers. The victim suffered serious injuries at Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea in the early hours of last Saturday and was taken to hospital by paramedics. But Essex Police confirmed this afternoon that she had died, adding that officers have been supporting her family and an investigation into the incident is ongoing. An 18-year-old man from Westcliff and a 17-year-old boy were both arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and bailed until September. The force said it was called at about 12.30am on Saturday to 'reports a group of people had taken unauthorised control of a small articulated loading vehicle'. Forensics officers investigate on Saturday at Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea, Essex Police at the scene in Chalkwell Park on Saturday after the teenager was hit by the vehicle Detectives also called for more witnesses to come forward with information, given there were 'a large number of young people in the area at the time'. Anyone with any details, CCTV, dashcam or other footage from the incident was urged to get in contact with police and quote incident 39 of June 13. Chalkwell Park is the same location where seven-year-old girl Leonna Ruka died and four other children were injured when a tree collapsed on June 28 last year. The girl from Dagenham had been visiting family in the area on the day of the incident and was enjoying the warm summer weather when the tragedy happened. She died despite members of the public rushing to try to lift the tree and the efforts of the emergency services shortly afterwards. Leonna's family later said in a statement that she was a 'beautiful, bright, and loving little girl, taken from us far too soon'. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.