Four Essex students who were killed when their car crashed into a building in Colchester in the early hours of Saturday morning have been named.
Police said Makyle Bayley, 22, Eva Darold-Tchikaya, 21, Anthony Hibbert, 24, and Daljang Wol, 22, were inside the vehicle and died at the scene of the crash. All four were students at the University of Essex and three were keen basketball players.
The car collided with a building in Magdalen Street shortly before 4.40am on Saturday. At this stage police do not believe any other vehicles were involved.
Officers are investigating what led up to the collision and have appealed for anyone who saw a black Ford Focus being driven along Magdalen Street or in the near vicinity around the time of the crash, or who has any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage, to get in touch.
The University of Essex’s acting vice-chancellor, Prof Maria Fasli, described the news as devastating. “These were young lives filled with hope, promise, talent and dreams for the future,” she said.
The students had played an active role in the university community through clubs and societies, Fasli added. “Anthony and Daljang were outstanding members of our Essex Rebels men’s basketball first team, Makyle was a talented basketball player who was a member of our BUCS basketball team, and Eva undertook several roles in our Essex Blades dance club and was active in many other clubs and societies,” she said.
“Their loss will be felt by their families and closest friends and by all our university community. In classrooms, in halls, in shared moments of laughter and learning – they were part of us, and their absence will be felt profoundly.”
The Essex police temporary assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper said: “I want to extend my condolences to the friends and family of Makyle, Eva, Anthony and Daljang. This will be an incredibly difficult time for them and we have specialist officers supporting them.”
