An inquest has opened following the death of a woman who was caught up in a police chase that ended in a three-way car crash.

Jessica Michael, 31, from Enfield, was driving through Parklands, Waltham Abbey, when her Vauxhall Corsa collided with two vehicles during the pursuit.

At Chelmsford Coroner’s Court on Monday, April 8, it was confirmed Mrs Michael was pronounced dead shortly after being freed from her car on Thursday, March 28 at 10.15pm.

A statement released by Essex police on Tuesday, April 2 said: “At about 9.55pm on Thursday March 28, officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit attempted to stop a Vauxhall Corsa on the M25.

“The vehicle was pursued and was then in a collision with two other vehicles - a Vauxhall Mokka and a Land Rover Range Rover.

“The Corsa driver sadly died at the scene.”

A post mortem conducted by Dr Swift who revealed the 31-year-old beauty therapist’s provisional cause of death was a "traumatic spinal injury".

Senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray adjourned the inquest until Thursday, October 10, 2019.

The two adults and three children in the Mokka vehicle, all from the Waltham Abbey area, were taken to hospital.

The driver, a 32-year-old woman, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries.

The front seat passenger, a 43-year-old man, and three children aged one, eight and 14 suffered minor injuries.

The 31-year-old mother of two leaves an eight-year-old son and a daughter, aged two-and-a-half, with husband, Andrew Michael.

Mrs Michael’s twin brother, Matthew Ladkin, flew back from Perth, Australia, as soon as he heard the news.

He said: “She was an amazing mum and character of her children are a testament to the mother, wife, daughter and sister she was.”

The incident is being independently investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Investigations by Essex Police are also still currently active.