Motorists swerved round A12 body

MOTORISTS swerved round the body found on the A12 as a woman tried desperately to flag them down, a witness has told.

A post-mortem is due to be carried out today on the dismembered body of a woman which was discovered on the A12 on Wednesday night.

Today the motorist who found the woman told how other drivers refused to stop as she tried to flag them down.

The woman from Colchester, said: “I was trying to wave down the traffic and no one was pulling over.

“It was like no one cared. Everyone could see what was going on. They could see the body in the road. Cars had to swerve to get past.”

Police will not name the victim until her next-of-kin have been informed and formal identification has taken place but it is believed to be woman in her 50s from Essex.

Detectives are currently treating the death as “unexplained” and issued a fresh appeal last night for witnesses to contact them with information.

But it is understood that consideration is being given to the possibility the woman, who was said to have suffered “serious trauma to the body”, took her own life.

Police yesterday completed forensic searches along a lay-by where a blue Peugeot 406, believed to belong to the woman, was discovered and later taken away for examination.

The lay-by was expected to fully reopen last night.

The body was in the London-bound carriageway when it was found.

Paramedics arrived at 9.54pm and pronounced the woman dead at the scene.

The London-bound carriageway was closed from the Copdock interchange to East Bergholt until 5am yesterday.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police thanked members of the public last night who had already come forward with information but urged more to contact the force.

“We would continue that appeal for anyone driving along the A12 at the time to contact us,” she added.

Any drivers who were on the A12 in the Capel St Mary area before 9.45pm, or who may have information are being asked to call 01473 613500.