Police have confirmed that the driver of the lorry involved in yesterday's crash on the A12, near Witham, has died.

There's some confusion this morning over where exactly the closure is on the A12 following the lorry crash at Witham yesterday. The official line from the Highways Agency is that the road is closed southbound from Marks Tey, junction 25, and Boreham interchange, junction 19.

However, drivers and our traffic service are reporting that junction 21 is open. We've checked again with Highways, who are sticking with their original line.

We will continue to try and get clarification. 

Either way, there are delays throughout the area this morning. The lorry has not yet been removed and so the closure is expected to remain in place until at least lunchtime.

Traffic is being diverted via the A120, the A131, the A130 and back on to the A12. Road users intending on using the A12 southbound carriageway are advised to allow additional time for their journeys.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

It will be a cold and rather cloudy day across the BBC East region with well-scattered light sleet or snow showers. 

The odd brighter spell is possible though but it will feel bitterly cold with a keen easterly breeze with a high of 3C (37F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Nikki Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Image source, Joe McCallam

Good morning Essex, although I hesitate to call it good. Thousands of journeys are being delayed and disrupted by yesterday's lorry crash on the A12, we will keep a close eye on that.

And delays and long waits are what's happening in our hospitals as well. Our political reporter Simon Dedman has had exclusive access to the bed management meeting at Basildon General this morning giving us a real insight into the problems they're facing.

So a busy day to come, I'll try not to keep you waiting.

A dual carriageway in Essex remains closed after a HGV fell onto road and caught fire.

We're calling it a day for the live page today, with the northbound carriageway of the A12 open again after the lorry crash near Witham.

The southbound carriageway remains closed, and is expected to stay that way for several hours.

We'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow, but any breaking news regarding the lorry crash will be posted on this feed overnight.

Police advice for morning commuters:

Nic Rigby
BBC News

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We received a call today at 15:49 to reports of a serious RTC on the A12 between Witham and Kelvedon.

"We have dispatched an ambulance crew which was on scene in six minutes and very quickly followed by an ambulance officer, rapid response vehicle, air ambulance from the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT), and the hazardous area response team (HART).

"Crews are still on scene working with emergency service colleagues.”

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Essex Police is appealing for witnesses after a lorry went off a bridge on to the A12 at Witham.

Any drivers who witnessed the crash are asked to contact police officers.

Joe McCallum, from Essex, said part of the lorry container was on fire.

Photos shared on Twitter showed a large cloud of dark grey smoke billowing from the scene of the crash.

Mr McCallum, a 28-year-old van driver, said he believed it was a lorry carrying frozen goods, but that he could not see much more due to its "mangled" state.

He said he could not see anybody in the cab following the crash, which he said happened at about 15:40. Crews from Essex Fire and Rescue and the Ambulance Service are at the scene.

We're hearing that the northbound carriageway of the A12 has reopened, after a lorry crashed from a bridge and ended up on the road near Witham.

However, the southbound carriageway is expected to remain closed for several hours.

We've also been told that three cars were struck by debris in the crash.

Image source, Dawn Hucklesby

A harrowing account of what happened...

This view of the A12 shows how far traffic is backed up following the lorry crash near Witham.

Image source, Instagram:bigal19873

Police described the crash which closed the road as a "significant incident".

One of the first people on the scene after the A12 lorry crash has said it looked like there had been an "explosion".

Image source, Chloe Willis

Chloe Willis, 20, of Colchester, was travelling along the A12 with friends from the University of Essex when they had to do an emergency stop to avoid the wreckage.

Ms Willis said her friend, who was driving, became "hysterical" after they came across the crash at Witham, at about 15:50.

"The bridge had broken - all the barriers had broken open," she said.

"Cars were having to drive on the grass to get round the lorry and a woman - who looked really shaken - was telling people where to go.

"There was a lot of smoke - it looked like there had been an explosion as it covered all the sky."

Steve Wilson posted on Facebook that there was a "massive fire on A12 at Witham", following the lorry crash.

Image source, Steve Wilson

Essex Fire and Rescue has sent five engines to the scene of the lorry crash on the A12 southbound at Witham.

Two appliances have gone from Witham, two from Colchester and one from Chelmsford.

Police are advising people to avoid the area near where a lorry has crashed on to the A12, near Witham. Long queues have already built up.

This has just come in from Essex Police, external: 

Officers are at the scene of an RTC on the #A12 Southbound at Witham. 

It is affecting both sides and drivers are asked to avoid the area as the road and the Coleman's Bridge will be closed for several hours and through the rush hour. 

Drivers are asked to find alternative routes.

Here's a Google Maps view of where the crash happened:

Image source, Google