This is the tragic aftermath of a collision on the A12 near Hatfield Peverel in the early hours of this morning
A cow was killed after it was struck by a silver Vauxhall Astra on the southbound carriageway at around 3.30am. The animal is believed to have been between the central reservation and the edge of the road at the time.
The car was damaged and while the Vauxhall driver escaped uninjured, four other people were treated for minor injuries including a VW van driver who received hand and facial injuries.
One person was admitted to hospital.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "Police were alerted just after 3.30am this morning (September 18) to a collision involving a silver Vauxhall Astra on the A12 near Hatfield Peverel with a cow.
"The car was badly damaged and a second vehicle was damaged by the debris.
"No one was injured in the Astra but the male driver of the other vehicle, a VW van, received minor injuries to his hand and face.
The cow died in the collision."
Highways Agency officials recovered the corpse earlier this morning after it was spotted by shocked onlookers.
