A TRAINEE cop smashed into a tree at close to 100mph before his body was found lying in the road by a horrified passer-by, an inquest heard.
Louie Day, 23, was behind the wheel on the A414 near Ongar in when he ploughed off the road in a devastating crash.
Louie Day, 23, was training with the Metropolitan Police when he crashed his car into a tree after reaching speeds of up to 100mphCredit: Essex Police
Louie Day, 23, crashed on the A414 near Ongar in EssexCredit: Google Maps
The Met trainee was driving at a staggering speed ahead of the crash in the early hours of September 5 last year.
An inquest heard he was “probably driving between 96 and 99 mph” moments before the fatal smash.
There were no witnesses to the collision itself, but the quiet country road soon became a scene of .
Emergency services were scrambled to the A414 near King Street at around 3.30am.
A passing driver spotted Louie “lying on the floor” after he had been ejected from the wrecked car.
Essex Coroner’s Court heard Louie suffered catastrophic injuries to his head, chest and abdomen.
Area Coroner Michelle Brown said he had likely died “instantly” in the ferocious impact.
She added he was “sitting” on his seat belt rather than wearing it at the time of the crash.
Earlier, a delivery driver had seen a car behaving oddly on the same stretch of road.
In a witness statement, the driver said a vehicle travelling towards them carried out a three-point turn in the middle of the road, which seemed “unusual”.
The driver said: “After it turned round, it looked like it was speeding away. It must have been doing faster than 40mph.”
Moments later, the same witness came across the aftermath.
They added: “As I drove on I saw smoke and mist in the road and then saw bits of car and realised something had happened.”
Medical tests later found no evidence of or alcohol in Louie’s system.
The court heard he had left a “note of intention”, with the coroner recording a conclusion of suicide.
Ms Brown concluded: “Louie Day from Brentwood died on September 5, 2025, on the A414 near King Street due to multiple injuries (head, chest and abdomen) sustained as a result of a road traffic collision as the driver and only occupant, leaving a note of intent.
“The conclusion is one of suicide.”
Louie had been training with the at the time and was working as a response officer on the East Area Command, based in Barking and Dagenham. He had previously served for two years as a PCSO.
In a heartbreaking statement, Louie’s family said: “It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the passing of our son, Louie Day, a beautiful soul who has left this world and will be greatly missed by all who loved him.
“We would now like some privacy to grieve in peace.”
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org , 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org , 116 123
If you are affected by any issues in this article, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or the Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 any time, day or night
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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