This is the dramatic moment a car is seen speeding past a row of shops – seconds before smashing into a wall, killing four university students returning home from a night out.
The black Ford Focus is seen driving quickly down the road noticeably faster than a vehicle that travelled in the other direction moments before during the early hours of Saturday.
Seconds after the footage was taken the hatchback smashed into a building less than 300metres away, killing the driver and three passengers instantly.
The victims of the horror crash near the centre of Colchester were named as University of Essex students Makyle Bayley, 22, Eva Darold-Tchikaya, 21, Anthony Junior ‘TJ’ Hibbert, 24, and Daljang ‘DJ’ Wol, 22.
They had been on their way home after spending a night out in the city when the crash happened on Magdalen Street.
Police are urging members of the public to submit CCTV, dashcam and doorbell footage that could help them piece together the car’s movements before the smash.
Footage of the car speeding through the streets was captured on a CCTV camera in the window of the Cut & Coffee barber shop.
Owner Mdhafar Abed, 42, today gave permission for the footage to be made public to act as a warning to young drivers to slow down.
Footage supplied to MailOnline by Colchester businessman Mdhafar Abed shows a black car speeding along Magdalen Street seconds before a fatal collision
Anthony Junior ‘AJ’ Hibbert (left) and Daljan ‘DJ’ Wol (right) both died in the crash
He told MailOnline: ‘What happened was a tragedy, they were only kids with their lives ahead of them.
‘But the car was going some speed – much too fast – and it looked to be in the middle of the road when it came past the shop.
‘From the footage, the driver was clearly driving much faster than the other cars on the road at the same time.
‘The Impact was just up the road. No more than 300 or 400 metres away. I don’t know what caused the crash but I’d have thought at that speed the driver may have hit or clipped something in the road and lost control of vehicle.
‘There’s no speed cameras on this road or speed bumps. The car was travelling way above the speed limit. It’s a built up area with shops and student accommodation.
‘I want this footage to act as a warning and make people more aware of just how quickly you can lose control of a car when it’s being driven at that sort of speed. It’s really dangerous.
‘I opened for work the next morning and the whole street was shut and sealed off by police. The cordon lasted a few hours.
‘I don’t want any more families to go through what the relative of the four young people who died here are going through. Drivers need to slow down.’
The ‘heartbreaking’ crash was so violent it is said police couldn’t tell what make the car was after it careered up a pavement and ploughed into a building – and locals were told ‘not to look’ by police.
Promising dancer Eva Darold-Tchikaya and student Makyle Bayley was killed as the car ploughed into a building
The footage shows the black Ford Focus passing by as an almost imperceptible blur shortly after 4.35am
This is the building the car crashed into in Colchester – home to a second-hand store and a Thai massage parlour (after, left, and before, right)
Local businessman Mdhafar Abed, whose CCTV at Cut & Coffee barbers captured the unsettling footage
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper of Essex Police 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.’
The accident happened at 4.40am on Saturday when the driver went up the wrong side of the road and mounted the pavement, hitting a set of brick steps outside a house.
The car then became embedded in the corner of a building containing a secondhand shop and a Thai massage parlour in Magdalen Street, Colchester.
An Essex Police statement said: ‘We were called shortly before 4.40am on Saturday to reports a vehicle had been in collision with a building in Magdalen Street.
‘Emergency services attended but, sadly, four people died at the scene. Their families have been informed and will be supported by specialist officers.’
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: ‘My thoughts, and those of everyone at Essex Police, is with the friends and families of the four people who died.
‘I want to thank the businesses and residents in Magdalen Street area for their support and understanding today in what has been a really difficult and tragic situation.
‘I always want to pay tribute to emergency services personnel who have worked diligently, professionally, and compassionately to ensure the dignity of those who have died.
‘Our enquiries to establish what led up to the collision are ongoing and I need anyone with information to contact us.’
The victims’ families released heartfelt tributes following the tragedy.
Eva’s family said: ‘Eva was a dearly loved daughter, sister, grand-daughter and niece.
‘Her happiness, enthusiasm, kindness, positive energy with always a smile on her face, will be missed by everyone who knew her, family and friends.
‘Eva was studying Sports Science at Colchester University. She was in her placement year coaching football, a member of Essex Blade Dances club and participant in other activities such as netball.
‘She was passionate about dance, was a talented performer in RnB and Street Dance, attending many classes in London.
‘She enjoyed cooking too.’
Dozens of bouquets of flowers have been left at the crash site as tributes to the four students
Friends have penned touching tributes to Eva, who was the vice-president of the university’s dance club, on her final post before the tragedy on Magdalen Street
Gifted basketball player Makyle Bayley, 22, was also among the students who tragically lost their lives in the incident
The scene in Colchester on Saturday February 1 after the fatal smash
The family of Daljang ‘DJ’ Wol say he had a ‘contagious smile’ and his ‘kindness left a lasting impact on countless lives.’
His family added: ‘DJ was the heart of our family-a source of unconditional love, guidance, and strength.
‘Our beloved son, DJ, lived a life filled with happiness, laughter, and dedication to basketball.
‘His smile was contagious and it touched everyone who knew him. His kindness left a lasting impact on countless lives.
‘We will forever cherish the memories, the lessons, and the love he shared with us.
‘We find comfort in knowing that DJ died as a hero because he touched so many lives in the little time he shared with us in this earth. ‘
The family of Makyle Bayley say the ‘kindness, thoughtfulness, and the joy he brought to those around him will never be forgotten.’
In a statement his family said: ‘Makyle was an extraordinary young man, full of life and promise.
‘He was in his final year studying Sports Science at the University of Essex, where he was not only dedicated to his academic pursuits but also to his love of basketball.
‘A passionate player from a young age, he proudly represented the Essex Rebels, his university’s basketball team.
‘His dedication to the sport extended beyond playing, as he also became a youth coach and the first ambassador for the YES charity, inspiring others with his enthusiasm and commitment.
Mr Abed, of Cut & Coffee, said he released the footage as a warning to young drivers, begging them to slow down
Witnesses said police struggled to identify the make and model of the car, such was its state after the crash (pictured: rubble gathered at the side of the crash site)
Police are asking for information and dashcam, doorbell and CCTV footage pertaining to the crash
‘Makyle was much more than a talented athlete—he was a beloved son, a proud big brother, and a true friend to so many.
‘His kindness, thoughtfulness, and the joy he brought to those around him will never be forgotten.
‘As his family—his parents, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents—we are deeply heartbroken by his loss.
‘Our lives will never be the same without him, but we will always carry his spirit in our hearts. He was a remarkable young man, and his memory will live on in the countless lives he touched.’
Anthony Junior ‘TJ’ Hibbert was ‘loved by all’ and left a ‘lasting warmth in the hearts of everyone he met’, according to his shattered family.
Paying tribute they said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of TJ, a young man whose passion for basketball was matched only by his kindness and uplifting spirit.
‘He was loved by all, and his presence left a lasting warmth in the hearts of everyone he met.’
Essex Police is asking for help with information, CCTV, dashcam or other footage in relation to the incident.
