Three people are killed after a moving car smashed into a stationary vehicle which crashed earlier in east London: Police refers itself to watchdog over fatal collision which also left another person injured

The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog after three people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on a major a-road. 

Officers were called to the A13 in Wennington Marshes, Rainham, shortly after 10pm on July 15, following reports of a crash between a moving car and a stationary vehicle.

The stationary vehicle had been involved in a crash a short time earlier.

Paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade also attended.

Three people died at the scene and one other passenger was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital. They have since been discharged.

The fatal crash happened after the police had been called to the initial non-fatal crash but before Met Police officers had arrived at the scene.

Calls to the first crash were made to Essex Police and as a result, both forces have made referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

No arrests have been made and police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following the incident. 

DI Julie Trodden, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'This is an extremely tragic incident and my thoughts remain with the families of those who lost their loved ones.

'We are keen to speak with anyone who may have been driving along this stretch of road around 10pm on 15 July and who may have dashcam footage of the incident.'

The IOPC is a non-departmental public body responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales.